STATEMENT
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MESSAGE OF CONDOLENCE ON THE PASSING OF AHMED KATHRADA
JOHANNESBURG, MARCH 28th 2017
As the Graça Machel Trust we are deeply saddened by the loss of an icon who gave his youth to liberate South Africa. We honour Ahmed Kathrada a shining star in the generation of giants who became one of our country’s leaders of freedom and peace.
Although we mourn his loss, we are heartened by the knowledge that there will be a jubilant reunion of leaders and Comrades who are no longer with us.
It is now up to those left behind to take on this extraordinary legacy that has been entrusted to us and find ways to live and imbue these values in our daily lives. At the Graça Machel Trust we commit, in a modest way, to live and continue this legacy.
We extend our sincere condolences to Barbara Hogan, the Kathrada Family and the Kathrada Foundation.
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ABOUT:
The Graça Machel Trust
The Graça Machel Trust is an advocacy organisation that works across the continent to drive positive change across women’s and children’s rights, as well as governance and leadership. Through our support of local initiatives and connecting key stakeholders at a regional, national and sub-national level, we help to catalyse action where it is needed. By using our convening power the Trust seeks to amplify the voices of women and children in Africa; influence governance; and promote women’s contributions and leadership in the economic social and political development of Africa.
Graça Machel Trust
Communications Department
Email: info@gracamacheltrust.org – website: www.gracamacheltrust.org/new
The Trust supports and mobilises civil society networks on issues of ending child marriage, ending violence against children, ending female genital mutilation and promoting children’s rights, to carry out advocacy and action across Africa. Special focus is placed on Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania and Zambia where child marriage continues to be a problem largely driven by poverty, gender inequality, harmful traditional practices, conflict, low levels of literacy, limited opportunities for girls and weak or non-existent protective and preventive legal frameworks.
Education is a fundamental right for all children, which is also a vehicle for social, economic and political transformation in communities, countries and the African continent at large. Recent studies indicate a lack of progress in some of the critical commitments aimed at improving education quality, access, retention and achievement, particularly for girls. In most African countries, girls may face barriers to learning, especially when they reach post-primary levels of education. By implementing multi-dimensional approaches to education which includes core education, personal development, life skills and economic competencies, the Trust partners with funding partners, governments, civil societies and the private sector to improve education access.
The Nutrition and Reproductive, Maternal, New-born, Child and Adolescent Health and Nutrition, (RMNCAH+N) of the Children’s Rights and Development Programme aims at promoting the Global Strategy for women, children and adolescents’ health within the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) agenda. The strategy emphasises on the importance of effective country leadership as a common factor across countries making progress in improving the health of women, children and adolescents.
Through its Early Childhood Development (ECD) plan, The Trust will seek to put into action the new science and evidence Report that was presented by Lancet Series on Good and early development – the right of every child. This will be achieved by mobilising like-minded partners to contribute in the new science and evidence to reach all young children with ECD. The Trust’s goal is to be a catalyst for doing things differently, in particular, to rid fragmentation and lack of coordination across ECD sectors. In response to evidence showing the importance of political will in turning the tide against the current poor access and quality of ECD. Even before conception, starting with a mother’s health and social economic conditions, the early years of a child’s life form a fundamental foundation that determines whether a child will survive and thrive optimally.