GVI Celebrate Mandela’s Release
Last week was the 20th Anniversary of Nelson Mandela’s release from prison after 27 years imprisonment under the Apartheid regime. It was celebrated all over South Africa but the centre of the celebrations was the former Victor Verster Prison where Mandela walked to freedom. As GVI’s Cape Town projects are not far from there we were all very keen to go along and mark such an important day in the history of South Africa.
We hoped to join the recreation of the walk Mandela and his then wife Winnie did through the gates of the prison but the thousands of people who turned out made it a little difficult. According to the ex-minister who invited GVI and was there 20 years ago, it was more chaotic this time than it was then! It was still a wonderful day enjoyed by all and we all felt very lucky to be a part of it and to have been welcomed by some many smiling and happy faces. Definitely a day to remember for many years to come.
This day also saw the opening of Parliament and the Presidential Address. As part of the programme of events GVI staff were invited to an exclusive Gala dinner with President Jacob Zuma, ministers and foreign dignitaries. The event also acted as a fund raiser for the President’s Education Trust on which he gave a very interesting speech on educational needs in South Africa. We all felt very privileged to have been invited and most importantly made some very useful contacts who will hopefully help our projects to continue to improve on all the good work we have been doing so far.
We hoped to join the recreation of the walk Mandela and his then wife Winnie did through the gates of the prison but the thousands of people who turned out made it a little difficult. According to the ex-minister who invited GVI and was there 20 years ago, it was more chaotic this time than it was then! It was still a wonderful day enjoyed by all and we all felt very lucky to be a part of it and to have been welcomed by some many smiling and happy faces. Definitely a day to remember for many years to come.
This day also saw the opening of Parliament and the Presidential Address. As part of the programme of events GVI staff were invited to an exclusive Gala dinner with President Jacob Zuma, ministers and foreign dignitaries. The event also acted as a fund raiser for the President’s Education Trust on which he gave a very interesting speech on educational needs in South Africa. We all felt very privileged to have been invited and most importantly made some very useful contacts who will hopefully help our projects to continue to improve on all the good work we have been doing so far.
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