Pretoria – Learners at Prinshof School for the Visually Impaired have received 10 braille copies of Madiba’s autobiography, The Long Walk to Freedom, from the Nelson Mandela Foundation and Eqstra on Monday.
The books were sponsored by the foundation’s partner Eqstra Fleet Management and form part of an ongoing literacy drive that focuses on education, literacy and the culture of learning and reading as key aspects of Madiba's legacy.
The braille initiative, set to become a national drive this year, gives visually impaired learners access to Madiba’s life story and the monumental legacy he left behind -- an important narrative they might otherwise not have been exposed to.
Prinshof school principal Karin Swart said a fundamental theme at the school this year, which is based in Pretoria, was dreaming big and looking at the future with a sense of wonder.
“We never want our children to be limited in any way to how they see themselves in the future. They are able to accomplish anything. A gesture like this makes those dreams come true,” she said.
Executive Director at Eqstra, JD du Plessis, said: “It was an amazing opportunity for the organisation to lend their weight to the foundation’s literacy initiative.
“At Eqstra, we strongly believe in equal opportunities and that the youth are the future of this country. This donation forms part of that and will help ensure that Tata’s legacy is carried from one generation to the next.”
Nelson Mandela Foundation Chief Executive Sello Hatang said: “As a society, we often take talent for granted. Talent knows no disability. We all have the potential to achieve great things in life.
“We hope you enjoy reading Madiba’s book and as you read it, know that he carried a special place in his heart for children like you. We hope his story will enrich your lives”. - SAnews.gov.za
