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THE ULTIMATE MANDELA DAY SCHOOLS CHALLENGE
OVERVIEW
The Ultimate Mandela Day Challenge is a competition for schools that concludes annually on International Mandela Day. It is a two-day event that starts on the eve of International Mandela Day.
Participating schools compete in different recreational activity codes. In the inaugural event these activities will be limited to music, drama, debate and poetry. The Ultimate Mandela Challenge aims to emulate former President Nelson Mandela’s legacy and instil his love for education, sports and culture in our learners.
At Teens Talk Foundation we believe that any child who can understand and try to walk through former President Nelson Mandela’s footsteps would ultimately become triumphant in their lives. Through composing and rehearsing songs, dramas and poems, children will be able to comprehend, appreciate and embrace his character traits.
The first Ultimate Mandela Day Challenge will be held in the Orange Farm area at Tshepana Primary Hall with the participants being two primary and four secondary schools from the immediate surroundings. We envisage the event to attract learners from participating schools, learners living in the area, parents and all categories of youth from the communities.
BACKGROUND
The Ultimate Mandela Day Challenge concept was conceived in a brainstorming exercise about the need for the organisation to host a Madiba Day event that caters for school learners as we believe them to be a neglected group on this important day on our National calendar. Arriving at this format, which is considerably different from the norm, was not easy.
It is from the backdrop of our vision that we sought to host an event that will allow young learners to explore and experiment their talents in honour and pursuit of the greatness of former President Nelson Mandela.
The Ultimate Mandela Day Challenge advances our mission by creating a platform for learners, through art, to engage on the successes & shortfalls of the past and their impact on the present; and ultimately, how to bring about positive change to their environments through the unwavering spirit of kindness, tolerance, endurance, perseverance and unity of the late Nelson Mandela. We believe The Ultimate Mandela Day Challenge will be a platform that will through creativity give a voice to all learners in their respective communities, the most fundamental structure of our democracy.
TRIP TO NELSON MANDELA CENTRE OF MEMORY
Every year before term two closes, learners are given a guided tour of the Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory, Africa and Apartheid Museum. Learners receive an explanation of the life and times of former President Nelson Mandela. A live interaction, if possible with willing and able comrades of Nelson Mandela with a particular focus on those who served time in prison with him on Robben Island.
Before, during or after the tour learners receive printed and/or digital material on Nelson Mandela’s life and times. The actual programme is developed by or in co-ordination with the Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory.
This year 2017, the date for the trip is yet to be communicated.
THEME
"THE LIFE & TIMES OF MADIBA and THE HISTORY OF SA"
MISSION, GOALS & OBJECTIVES
MISSION
Building a nation that embraces fulfilling and sustainable lifestyles.
GOALS & OBJECTIVES
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To let children understand, appreciate and embrace the good deeds of our heroes.
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To motivate learners, stimulate creativity, improve self-esteem, reading, speaking and writing skills as well as developing talents.
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To increase the spirit of volunteerism and ubuntu amongst young people.
CATEGORIES OFACTIVITIES
For the inaugural event 2016, schools will compete in only for activities namely; music, drama, poetry & debate.
MUSIC
Learners will be required to compose a song(s) about the history of Mandela & SA and the impact of this history on their current environments. There will be time limits as to the duration of the song. It is advisable that two songs be composed as there will be a final battle.
We are looking for experienced music composer who can give the participating learners lessons on composition that will help them to compose the songs they need to.
DRAMA
Learners should write a drama about the life and times of former President Nelson Mandela. The act must bring out creativity, address the challenges in their communities and propose solutions to those challenges through the lesson(s) learnt from the lifetimes and the spirit of Nelson Mandela.
Steps are being taken to determine how the State Theatre, Market Theatre and any other willing partner can help participating learners in drama and story writing skills.
POETRY
The inaugural event, due to time constraints can only allow for one poetry participant per school. All poems must be sent to the Teens Talk Foundation before actual performance.
Co-ordination is being made to have these participants engaged with an experienced poet and learn lessons from such a poet.
SPELLING BEE
The Spelling Bee contest would be conducted in mainly 3rounds: Preliminaries round, Semi-Finals round and championship round. The word list(s) would be built mainly from Nelson Mandela’s writings, speeches, and/or quotations.