International Focus Magazine Prototype Edition | Page 44

Sonia: Hello! A pleasure to see
you! We’ve corresponded on social
media up to now, what do you
think of Houston?
Mandela: I like it so far. It’s
warm here.

Sonia: You’ll be going to the Pan
African Women’s Economic Empowerment Summit where you’re a
keynote speaker at dinner tonight.
Tell us a bit about the Foundation.

Mandela: It is a foundation that,
you know, Granddad cared for
Sonia: Is this your first visit to
children’s rights, and it is similar
Houston?
to the Nelson Mandela Foundation in its focus on education and
Mandela: Most definitely. I’ve better health.
been to Tennessee and other places, but never Houston.
When Grandad became ill in
January, 2011, I took a sabbatiSonia: Wow! First visit to Houston cal. Being an ICU nurse, I deand the Rodeo is beginning, lots of cided to spend his last days by his
good things in Houston.
side, and by de facto became the
liaison person between the famMandela: Yes, I saw it on the ily and the medical team. It was
news.
during that time that I discussed
with him continuing his legacy.

44 iF Magazine | June 2016

Sadly, I had this intention in 2012,
yet we were delayed in registration because Granddad fell ill at
the end of 2012 and passes on in
December of 2013. Come January, 2014 we’re registered, and the
Thembikile Mandela Foundation,
whose idea and seed had been
sown since 2012 came into existence in February, 2013. Nelson
Mandela Schools are the schools
that Granddad raised funds in and
all around South Africa for recent
computers, science laboratories,
and libraries. We use development to look at agriculture in
terms of looking at jobs to address
issues of unemployment, take unemployed youth and train them
in agriculture, and how to run an
agricultural project, and be able to
participate in the years to come.