Nelson Mandela at 90 A Guide for Local Authorities

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Loren Peters
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1 Nelson Mandela at 90 A Guide for Local Authorities

2 Nelson Mandela at 90 Guide for councils in the UK Introduction On Friday 18 July 2008 millions of people throughout the world will celebrate Nelson Mandela s 90th birthday. It will be an occasion to recognise Mandela s great qualities and also to focus on the achievements, opportunities and challenges of the movement for development, justice and rights for southern Africa. ACTSA, the successor to the British Anti Apartheid Movement and Local Authority ACTSA, wants to involve people, communities and organisations throughout the UK in the celebration of Mandela s 90th year by encouraging local events, activities and action throughout the summer months. Local Authorities will naturally be a key facilitator of activities and events to celebrate Nelson Mandela s 90 th birthday. Especially as so many have such a long and proud history of standing in solidarity with South Africans in their struggle for liberation. This guide is intended to provide your local authority with ideas and inspiration to celebrate Nelson Mandela s 90 th birthday not just on or around Nelson Mandela s birthday on July 18 th, but throughout the summer months. It is not just to provide ideas for council run events but to look to allow you to inspire groups and organisations within your community to run their own events to mark the occasion. Aims of the Nelson Mandela at 90 campaign in Britain: To celebrate Nelson Mandela s 90 th birthday appropriately and sensitively To provide information on the context and history of the struggle against apartheid To celebrate the achievements of the movement against apartheid and for freedom and justice for South and southern Africa. To inform people in Britain about the development challenges that still confront South and southern Africa To involve people in Britain in committing to support the development of South and southern Africa, promoting democracy, justice and development Convene a meeting of interested parties Perhaps one of the most effective ways in which your local authority can participate in the Mandela at 90 campaign is by providing encouragement and resources to local groups to run the campaign on a local level and involve the wider community. Invite likely interested people and groups to a meeting to discuss what they might do to promote the campaign. You could invite trade union branches and trades councils, churches and faith groups, school and youth leaders, campaign groups, women s groups; in short all those who may be interested in working with the council in events and activities to mark Nelson If your meeting is to stimulate ideas and encourage discussion, make sure you inform and encourage invitees in advance to get them to bring ideas with them. You might want to highlight any incentives that you might be offering local groups to run an activity, for example a small grants fund to assist them with running costs. Use the meeting to discuss some of the ideas in this paper along with your own plans. You should introduce participants to the running an event guide, produced by ACTSA, also available on the Mandela at 90 pages of keep meetings quite informal and make sure there are plenty of opportunities for participants to put forward their own ideas and space for them to work in groups to create ideas as well as identify what support they might want from their local authority. This will create a

3 sense of community ownership of the campaign, give groups an opportunity to be creative and the council an opportunity to act as a facilitator. If you want any support from ACTSA in running this meeting, please us at campaigns@actsa.org If you don t get a fantastic turnout for your initial meeting remember it is only one of many opportunities to develop ideas in partnership with local groups. There will of course groups who are keen to get involved in the campaign and unable to attend, you will need to approach these individually. Key to stimulating local activity is getting started. You can do something now. Birthday cards: 90,000 pledges for Mandela at 90 Perhaps the easiest and one of the most effective ways to promote participation in the campaign will be to encourage members of the public to sign a birthday pledge for Mandela at 90. The use of birthday cards was a key part of the Free Nelson Mandela Campaign in the UK throughout the 1980s with local authorities throughout the UK involved in sending birthday greetings to Mandela during his time in prison on Robben Island. ACTSA are reintroducing this activity, but this time asking people to make a pledge that has a lasting impact on southern Africa. You could either produce your own card with an adaptation of the wording below or alternatively contact ACTSA who will be able to supply you with a model birthday card to use. Happy 90 th Birthday Nelson Mandela! A message from the people of Britain. We join the peoples of the world in sending you our congratulations on your 90 th birthday. We salute your lifelong contribution to the movement for freedom, democracy, peace and rights for all. We pledge our continued solidarity and support for the people of southern Africa as they continue to fight against HIV and AIDS, poverty, inequality, racism and other injustices and work for a better future for all. As well as displaying your card in the local authority offices why not ask local youth groups, churches and faith groups, trade union branches and trades councils and campaigning organisations to participate. You could also speak to your education department and encourage schools to take up the activity too. ACTSA has also produced an online birthday card at and we would ask you to promote this among your staff and on your website. It is important that you are able to keep a count of the number of birthday greetings to Nelson Mandela you get. Please provide this total to ACTSA by 31 July Glasgow Council, which provides the chair of Local Authority Action for Southern Africa (and was the first local authority to award freedom of the City to Nelson Mandela is willing to collate birthday greetings from councils around and arrange for them to be sent to South Africa. Rededication of Mandela Street, Garden or House. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s numerous local authorities named a street, road, building or garden after Nelson Mandela or another key activist in the Anti Apartheid struggle. The celebration of Nelson Mandela s 90 th birthday provides a major opportunity for local authority to remind or even introduce residents to the history of

4 apartheid South Africa and the role of local authorities and the British Anti Apartheid Movement. If your local authority named a street, garden or building after Nelson Mandela or one of the leading activists in the Anti Apartheid Movement then why not rededicate it to its namesake. This provides a simple and high profile opportunity to promote the campaign. It also provide an opportunity to encourage schools to participate, drawing a link between your local school pupils community and southern Africa as well as informing them of the history of the movement and increasing their global awareness. ACTSA is forming an online map of locations around the UK linked with the Anti Apartheid Movement. If you want a location in your local authority included in this please contact campaigns@actsa.org Twinning and Partnerships Community and group links can provide opportunities to develop friendships, strengthen the local community and share ideas and resources to the benefit of both communities. Linking provides a unique opportunity to gain a better understanding of the world through creating a mutual understanding of each others cultures and lives and developing a sense of solidarity between communities. Community linking when effectively done can be of particular benefit to younger people as it allows them to grow up with an enthusiasm for and an understanding of a community elsewhere in the world. Links between schools not only add an extra dimension to children s learning but create a positive dialogue and friendship between two groups of children that will contribute towards their social development. Your local authority may already be linked with a local authority in southern Africa, or you may be aware links that already exist between communities or groups within your locality and their southern African counterparts. Some might be thriving where as others will need reviving. The occasion of Nelson Mandela s 90 th birthday gives groups and communities the opportunity to develop new and existing links along with the positive dialogue, education and friendship that go with them. The occasion of Nelson Mandela s 90 th birthday provides an ideal platform to develop between communities, groups, churches and schools within southern or South Africa. Fortunately there is a wealth of best practice, resources, organisations and even funding to support this kind of work including the following: ACTSA and LAACTSA can advise and there is also The UK One World linking Association provide a range of resources on developing links for a range of organisations. The International Bureau of the Local Government Association The Commonwealth Local Government Forum For groups in Wales grants and support are available to create and develop links through the Wales for Africa Gold Star Community Linking Project

5 Resources for schools are also available from the BBC, the British Council and Link Community Development including: Education Pre 16 Education Many young people know more of Mandela as the first President of the free South Africa than they do of the anti apartheid campaigner, freedom fighter and prisoner. The celebration of Mandela s 90 th birthday provides an opportunity to give young people a fuller understanding of Mandela s life and the lives of other leading Anti Apartheid activists, by encouraging schools to feature Mandela at 90 in lessons. In addition to the many teaching resources available on Nelson Mandela and southern Africa, for all key stages, there are numerous other ways schools and councils could work together to feature Mandela at 90 in schools. School students might be encouraged to produce art work including, paintings, drawings or crafts which could be displayed in a school or the Town Hall on the theme of Mandela at 90. Children could be encouraged to write poetry on the theme of Mandela at 90, which could be featured online. Councils, through their LEAs could highlight some of the resources they might already have available to promote Mandela at 90: School libraries could feature books about southern Africa and some of its leading figures such as Nelson Mandela and Steve Biko. There are many films that highlight the fight against apartheid and the challenges facing post apartheid southern Africa. In addition to the major blockbusters available, there are also a number of films produced by smaller independent companies. Southern African music could be studied in music lessons as well as political music calling for an end to apartheid. For example Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Miriam Makeba, Hugh Masakela, The Manhattan Brothers, Jerry Dammers & The Specials, and Peter Gabriel. Schools could invite local southern African artists to create music with children, for example drumming and rap. Your local authority could also provide schools with a list of speakers for example local councillors, MPs who were involved in the Anti apartheid Movement and could be invited into schools to talk about their experiences. If the council does not have this information then contact ACTSA. Schools could also be encouraged to organise an activity to celebrate Mandela at 90 including: Encouraging children to sign the Mandela at 90 birthday card, Encouraging children to hold up their pledges on pieces of card to create a giant South African Flag Holding a sporting event, for example a football match 90 minutes for Mandela.

6 For further ideas and inspiration refer to ACTSAs organising an event for Mandela at 90. Post 16 Education Local authorities could write to their local further and higher education institutions and encourage them to get involved in the Mandela at 90 Campaign. Many HE students unions, in particular, were highly involved in the Anti Apartheid Movement and ACTSA is working with NUS to highlight the campaign to your local student activists. Write also to your local students unions and find out if they have any plans to mark the occasion. If you are planning an event or inviting a speaker to give a lecture as part of your local Mandela at 90 celebrations, consider involving your local and further and higher education institutions. Some HE institutions will have international development or politics departments, others will have courses including modules on southern Africa. They may well have a real interest in your campaign activities and see a real benefit to getting involved. Use existing and planned events to promote Mandela at 90 Most local authorities will have a programme of high profile events already planned for the months ahead. It may be worth using some of these to promote the Mandela at 90 campaign. Concerts, festivals and sports events all provide an opportunity to encourage participants to sign a birthday card. Annual educational events and lectures provide a good opportunity to highlight the history of southern Africa as well as more recent successes and some of the challenges for the future. Many local authorities will mark particular occasions and events, for example Black History Month. Speak to your local authority events department to find out what s planned and how you might be able to feature the campaign into the existing programme of events Concert, Hyde Park, 27th June One of the highlights of the Mandela at 90 celebrations this summer will be the Concert taking place in Hyde Park, London on 27th June. Please promote this to individuals and groups who take an interest in the campaign was Nelson Mandela's prison number when he was imprisoned on Robben Island, in 1964 for 27 years, for leading the liberation movement against apartheid. His prison number is now used to promote the worldwide fight against the HIV and AIDS epidemic in Africa through raising awareness and educating young people in particular also raise funds to directly support many HIV and AIDS projects Tickets for this concert are available from early May on the website. Use your libraries to highlight relevant resources If your local authority was historically involved in the anti apartheid movement then your libraries may well provide a wealth of local information on the community s involvement in the campaign. You may look to display and promote these materials to the public and particular interest groups eg. Local history groups. Libraries could put southern African resources on prominent display throughout the summer months including: Books about southern Africa and some of its leading figures such as Nelson Mandela. Oliver Tambo, Walter Sisulu, and Ahmed? Kathrada? Denis Goldbergother Rivonia trialists, Joe Slovo, Chris Hani, Robert Sobukwe and Steve Biko.

7 Films that highlight the fight against apartheid and the challenges facing post apartheid southern Africa, including blockbuster films and those by smaller independent companies as well as southern African music and political music calling for an end to apartheid. Public lectures Your local authority, through its involvement in the anti Apartheid Movement may well have links with a number of high profile anti apartheid activists who may be able to speak at a public lecture to mark the occasion of Nelson Mandela s birthday, ACTSA may also be able to suggest an appropriate speaker. You could focus on one of the great leaders of the Anti Apartheid Movement, the role of your community in the movement or the challenges and successes of a post apartheid southern Africa. You may want to organise a public lecture or encourage another organisation to take the lead. Universities or faith groups for example will already have a captive audience who may well have an interest in the theme of your lecture. However, don t rely solely on one or two particular audiences, take your invitation out to as many local groups as possible. Sporting events Although all eyes this year may well be on the Olympic games, they will soon be looking to 2010, when South Africa will be hosting the FIFA World Cup. The biggest sporting event ever held on the continent. Sport provides a great opportunity to provide a focus on southern Africa, particularly for those who were too young to be involved in the Anti apartheid Movement. Sport centres and football teams could organise a 90 minutes for Mandela game to draw attention to the campaign and some of the challenges facing southern Africa. Other sports teams or groups could also look at ways they could commemorate the occasion through a sponsored event or fundraiser. Local businesses As well as individuals making a pledge for Mandela at 90, local businesses could also be approached to do the same. A wide variety of fair trade products are available for the retail and catering industries. You could encourage local business, through your chamber of trade or commerce to make a commitment to fair trade. More information is available abut this at the Fair Trade Foundation s website Southern Africa and South Africa in particular produces a wide range of indigenous products for export, including wine, food and fruit. During the run up to Nelson Mandela s birthday, major food retailers could be encouraged to promote the produce from these labour intensive sectors and in doing so show how important they are for rural job creation and prosperity. Restaurants and food outlets could be encouraged to promote southern African dishes on their menus and use southern African and fair trade products. Hold a party Your local authority could look to either hold a party for the community or encourage local organisations or groups to do the same. This could be a celebration of your locality s contribution to the Anti Apartheid Movement or an opportunity to celebrate Nelson Mandela and some of the other great leaders of the fight against Apartheid.

8 For more information on this refer to ACTSAs guide on running an event for Mandela at 90. Support local government in southern Africa One of the best ways to support activity on Nelson Mandela at 90 is, if your local authority is not already a member, by joining Local Authority Action for Southern Africa (LAACTSA). LAACTSA was formed in 1995 from the authorities which had previously supported the Anti-Apartheid Movement. It was set up, to assist in the reconstruction of southern Africa following the defeat of Apartheid and undertakes work on many critical issues and challenges facing the peoples of the region. Unfortunately, many of those challenges that existed at the end of apartheid are still in evidence today and will take many more years to overcome in spite of the efforts of governments and civil society. Add to this the effects of the HIV/AIDS pandemic ravaging sub-saharan Africa and you can see there is much work unfinished and much more to be done. LAACTSA aims to promote, service and facilitate the work of local authorities and in Britain in order to: a) Develop knowledge and understanding about the current situation in both urban and rural Southern Africa especially in relation to the legacies of apartheid; b) Support the development of non-racial and democratic local government activities in Southern Africa; c) Support the on-going economic sustainability of Southern Africa through practical skills exchanges of best practice and business models; d) Promote friendship and co-operation between local authorities and local communities, including educational bodies, in Britain and Southern Africa If you are interested in the work of LAACTSA and want to join or find out more contact john.mcfadden@drs.glasgow.gov.uk. Membership for local authorities starts at 125. Use ACTSA to promote your activities ACTSAs Mandela at 90 pages on its website will be used as a vehicle to promote Mandela at 90 activity throughout the UK. Make sure you keep ACTSA informed of your plans, so we can help you promote them. ACTSA will be launching an online map and events guide, highlighting activity throughout the UK and noting locations of significance in the UK from the Anti apartheid era. If you want your local authority featured, please contact campaigns@actsa.org ACTSAs website will also feature an online birthday card, where users can leave their birthday messages and pledges for Nelson Mandela and a design a birthday card feature where children can design their own card online and have it featured on ACTSAs web based gallery. Please feel free to provide the appropriate links to your own website to and ask community organisations and schools to do the same.

9 The Mandela at 90 campaign provides local authorities and communities to inform and educate communities about the struggle against apartheid, its legacy and the challenges still facing southern Africa. It provides communities with the opportunity to develop existing links and dialogue with the region and contribute towards its continued development. Through the focus on Nelson Mandela and some of the great leaders of South Africa, the campaign also highlights the issues of democracy, justice equality and rights. We hope you engage with the Mandela at 90 campaign and look forward to working with you in the coming months to celebrate his birthday appropriately and sensitively and leave a lasting legacy for the people of southern Africa.

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