Lots of South Africans gave their time to make a difference in some people’s lives for 67minutes. So did Refugee Aid Organisation from Johannesburg. The Organisation took 19 refugee children from the Troyeville Junior Primary School in Johannesburg. These children were taken to the Apartheid Museum. They got the opportunity to learn about the history of South Africa, the challenges South Africans came across and the sacrifices they had made to achieve their freedom.
July 18th has always been recognised as the birthday for our former president, Mr. Rolihlahla Nelson Mandela, but in November 2009 the United Nations chose this day to be known as Nelson Mandela International Holiday .In this day people are asked to give 67 minutes of their time, by doing something good for the community or any other organisation, and the less fortunate. As the man of the day, Mr. Nelson Mandela, gave 67 years of his life to fight human oppression, human rights abuse and equality amongst all South Africans
The children were also shown video clips of Mr. Mandela, some of his speeches, exclusive interviews and the underground place where he used to hide from the police.
The pupils were accompanied by their grade 5 teacher Mr. Moyo. He was touched by the things he saw at the museum, “I am really thankful for what Mr. Nelson Mandela and his counterparts did to make sure that South Africans are free. If it wasn’t for him and the sacrifices he made; I believe this country would have turned out to be something bad and I also don’t believe I would have been welcomed as a teacher in this country,” he said.
The kids were very excited about the trip, although some were emotional. “It really hurts, seing what South Africans went through just to get their freedom. Today South Africa is a beautiful country, people share with each other, whites now live with black people and everyone is happy and we also interact with white kids in our school,” said a grade 5 pupil from Troyeville primary school, Patricia Kungwara.
It was a great day for the kids, and the staff from the Refugee Aid Organisation. “I really enjoyed myself and I had fun with kids, but most of all I got to learn about my country and its political struggles. We’ve always heard people talking about how blacks were moved out of the cities, having seen the pictures and short documentaries I now have a clear understanding and now I know that it was not easy but it was worth it,” said Miss Rieta Mhlanga, one of the RAO employees.
The kids enjoyed themselves, they had fun and they had smiles on their faces which was the aim of the Organisation for that day.
