Nelson Mandela was lauded on Wednesday for his work to improve the physical and emotional lot of children and for his contribution to their literary world. The former president was attending a special Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund dinner in Sandton, Johannesburg, when he became the first recipient of an award in the
newly-inaugurated Legacy Club.
This club honours those who make a significant contribution to the fund’s endowment plan which aims to raise R250-million so that funding can be sustainable over the long term.
Each new member will be given a limited edition watch bearing Mandela’s signature.
”I am honoured that for the first time I am the one that gets presented with the award, a watch signed by myself!” said the beaming former president.
Other recipients was the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation and Christa Kulijan, director of the foundation’s South African operation, accepted the watch.
Mandela later officially received an award for Outstanding Children’s Literary Work from Robert Weil representing the National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People — the oldest civil rights organisation in the United States.
Weil said the category in which author’s book, Madiba’s Favourite Folktales, had been entered, had had stiff opposition from the likes of Spike Lee and rapper L-L-Cool J.
Weil said of the former president’s book, ”These fables cannot be underestimated.” – Sapa