Do your little bit of good where you are; it’s those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world – Desmond Tutu.
Archbishop Desmond Mpilo Tutu. Photo Credit: UN/The Elders.
The Graça Machel Trust joins Africa in mourning the passing of Archbishop Desmond Mpilo Tutu. We extend our heartfelt condolences to the Tutu Family on this devastating loss. Archbishop Tutu will be remembered as a social rights activist, a source of wisdom, moral authority and deep empathy who stood for all that is right and just. The principles of justice, equality and freedom have been the hallmark of his existence.
He fought to reject abuses of power and called for peace – both during apartheid as well as in post-apartheid South Africa, earning him the prestigious Nobel Peace Prize in 1984 – a full decade before the formation of a democratic South Africa. The nobility of his life’s work, his steadfast and influential voice for the voiceless serves as an inspiration to the Graça Machel Trust, our networks, and the millions of women and children on the continent whose lives we aim to impact.
The Archbishop taught the world to embrace the concept of “human invaluableness” and believe in community and unity. As we remember Archbishop Tutu, an African icon, we can only honour his memory by working to build a world of equality, peace and justice.
May His Soul Rest in Peace.
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.