Wednesday 18th January 2023 marked history in the Capital of the Republic of South Africa – City of Tshwane previously called Pretoria. Freedom Park – a memorial for freedom and a beacon to guide all South Africans on the route of hope and patriotism towards a proud and united nation was just the perfect final host to the Moleboheng Matli Foundation Africa Youth Exchange Scholar Program learners and their parents.
A day long anticipated by the 2023 Grade 12 girls from Alex High and Sandown High in Johannesburg brought a reminder as to why the late former President Nelson Mandela announced it a people’s shrine where those who endured pain for the liberation of the Country would be honored with all dignity.
Honor, dignity, respect, humility, compassion and common love for a better Africa was the order of the day as the girls officially got awarded their certificates of scholarship.
Recognition of their schools was on the agenda as both schools also got awarded certificates of excellence to have produced brilliant sharp minds in the girls determined to change the status quo in their respective communities by acquiring an education.
The intimate occasion was honored with the presence of each learner’s parents who stand in solidarity for their girls access to education and a better future.
Welcomed by Freedom Park’s Company Secretary and Acting HOD Advocate, Unarine Tshikovhi set the tone for the day while the Gauteng Province Government through the Office of the MEC for Education, Hon. Matome Chiloane passionately spoke of its commitment to the education of the girl child and reiterated on its school twining program that was well placed with Alex and Sandown High learners under the same roof as envisioned and implemented by Premier Panyaza Lesufi back in 2019 as then MEC for Education.
The MEC’s office was represented by Hon Bongani Sibisi – The Parliamentary Liaison Officer who congratulated the girls and encouraged them to keep the flag of South Africa flying high.
Moleboheng Matli Foundation is a South African Non – Profit Organisation with focus on education development and literacy enhancement. Given the gender-gap in access to education across Africa, they have found value intention to champion a girl child prioritized course.
Their mission is to empower African girls and women with the liberation of education and literacy for a richer Africa, while their vision is to become pioneers in transforming impoverished black communities through education and literacy enhancement.
Through collaboration and partnership with the Greater Memphis Chamber of Commerce in the United States, MMF has secured full board scholarships in law with the Universities of Memphis and Tennessee respectively.
The girls are scheduled for their first outbound excursion under the AYESP – Africa Youth Exchange Scholar Program to Memphis in March where they will visit the Universities and undergo preadmission processes into the law faculties.
Ambassador Moleboheng Matli, current Global Goodwill Ambassador of the African Tourism Board and the founding Executive Chairperson of the foundation passionately addressed the girls, parents and stakeholders in her closing statement quoting Nelson Mandela, “Education is the most powerful tool to use to change the world’ and she said the time is here and the time is now to stop talking of change but enforce change and be the change for every black girl in Africa. She has made a public plea to African and global governments, private sectors, civil society, NGO’s and interest groups to support the mission of the NPO and join forces in making sure the girls are secured a great future so they can come back and do same in their communities for a chain of change makers for the African girl child.
AYESP powered by Southgerian Lifestyle, supported by Nelson Mandela Foundation and the Gauteng Department of Education while officially partnered with the Greater Memphis Chamber of Commerce; TRUST marketing and communications – Memphis USA; African Tourism Board; Nigeria Check Newspaper, Nigerian Consulate in South Africa; Bathu Shoes; Jeep Chrysler Sandton; Jollof Café; Kuti Media; Alex FM; Africa Asia Scholars Global Network and Clevenard TV; President of International Kingdom University in Tennessee, Publisher and Owner, Shapes of Music Publishing LLC, Owner of Nequil Natural Herbs, Executive Rep for W2W Entertainment Group and Owner of Unlimited Marketing and Consulting, Dr Ureaka Nequil Rayford Prescott as well as Freedom Park, and calls out to many more stakeholders across the globe to be part of this transformational journey.
The End!
Issued by Moleboheng Matli Foundation