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agedtoperfection777-blog · 3 years

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Against Poverty

"Men and women who fight the suppression of the human voice, who fight disease, illiteracy, ignorance, poverty, and hunger. Some are known, others are not. Those are people who have inspired me."

-Nelson Mandela, South Africa’s first democratically-elected President

Nelson Mandela prevailed against apartheid and white minority rule in South Africa and was banned and imprisoned during the struggle. In addition to the loss of freedom, he suffered from a debilitating illness, was separated from his loved ones, and faced incredible oppression. Yet he never strayed from ideals that resonate – democracy, equality, and the right to quality education.

The call-to-action for the 2021 observance of Nelson Mandela Day on July 18 is to take action, inspire change and make every day a “Mandela Day.”

From his first act of civil disobedience as a student protestor in the 1940s until he died in 2013, the Madiba clan's most celebrated son fought against poverty and its contributing factors.

Today, South Africa is burning again. I am reflecting on the root causes of so much violence and rioting and it is a trope I recognize – poverty begat violence.

I am praying for South Africa. Yet today, I am also celebrating and sharing some inspiring opportunities to join the global network of good people taking a stand against poverty in South Africa and around the globe.

They inspire me.

I always like to say "aim small – miss small." To me, the phrase means to do one single thing well and trust it will have an impact because others are doing the same thing.

I know of a preschool run by inspiring women in an impoverished South African township outside of Cape Town. I am involved in another effort to empower women entrepreneurs. In just a short time, I’ve seen what well-intentioned efforts can yield.

Mana Preschool Grows Literacy and Produce

In pursuit of the mission to strengthen the development of the whole child by providing an all-inclusive education that encourages independent thought and essential skills, including empathy for others, resiliency, personal confidence, and affirmation of individual worth. This is the Mana Preschool in a nutshell. I watch videos each week that my friends at the preschool send me and I hear literacy blooming with my own ears. And there is a garden – one small seed that could sprout into an urban agriculture solution that addresses so much earthly goodness I can hardly control my enthusiasm.

Every Curated Piece tells a Story.

On Mandela Day – July 18 - and throughout July, you can visit my passion project’s social media pages and write in how you #InspireChange in our world. At the end of the month, we will recognize one person and present them with one of the most prized items in our Mana Boxes collection. Crafted from the raw Robben Island prison fence – that separated Nelson Mandela from freedom for 18 of his 27 years in captivity - comes this beautiful Strength necklace and earrings. You can wear his inspiration every day. The pieces delicately expose the raw fence sealed forever in laminate:

I believe - as do all of my friends in South Africa - when you empower a woman, you empower family, community, nations, and the world.

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