Kamva Photography
The unemployed youth of Kariega can now continue with their dreams and ambitions thanks to the Kariega Youth Centre which was recently adopted by the internationally recognised Africa Rising Foundation.
This Centre has quite a bit of Madiba Magic, not only because children were so close to his heart but also because his grandsons Ndaba and Kweku Mandela-Amuah are directly involved.
Ndaba, who addressed the first group of youngsters at the centre last week, was as colourful as his late grandfather, dressed in a hip-hop-inspired outfit, rounded off with a cap.
Ndaba, however, removed his cap before addressing the youth as this is a sign of respect in the Xhosa culture, one of many lessons he had learned from his grandfather.
Ndaba kept his speech short but would later tell AlgoaFM News that he preferred engaging and interacting with people rather than addressing them.
The youth of Kariega visibly hung on to every word he spoke about the Foundation's goals of encouraging them to dream bigger while they would be there to ensure they had access to skills and tools to achieve their dreams.
"We are here to really motivate and encourage young people to take that first step, and as long as they take that first step, we will take that second step with them," Ndaba added.
Ndaba says when he started this foundation in 2010, he was working in corporate South Africa and felt that there was a need to bring a change to how Africa is viewed internationally.
He said the best way to work towards changing this image was to focus on the youth which is why they decided to focus on the high school learners in his hometown of Qunu and around the Mthatha area.
"The people in the urban areas have quite a bit of access to technology, so why don't we go to the rural areas and of course charity begins at home so we started in Qunu."
He says the Foundation's main focus is the impoverished rural areas and townships in the Eastern Cape where it's needed the most.
Ndaba says the centre will not be all work and no play and that he wants to build a resource centre similar to the Kariega one in Qunu as well, which the Foundation is in the process of raising funds for.
"We want young people to become computer literate but to also engage with it on a fun level. We also need to engage with young people so that they can get interested in games, enjoy these games then ask themselves how these games work," he added.
He also spoke about Africa's rising partnership with the Mandela Institute For Humanity and American Express on the 100 Mandela's leadership programme.
Ndaba says each year, 20 Africans from all over the world who show all the leadership qualities of Madiba will be selected to form part of the programme.
Four people from South Africa will form part of the group this year.
Asked whether he thinks the next Nelson Mandela could come from Nelson Mandela Bay or even the Eastern Cape, he said absolutely without hesitation; "We want to create a new world league of leaders."
Ndaba also emphasized that while his grandfather's generation left a great legacy, it was time for the youth of today to think about the kind of legacy it wants to leave behind.
"I think Madiba was a person who was very passionate about his people and work. He had compassion for his people - his job was not about being the best but rather standing up for those who couldn't stand up for themselves. There is a Nelson Mandela that lives inside of all of us, it's just a matter of unleashing it in our communities," he said.
Ndaba added that he wants his legacy to be about uniting people of African origin.
"If I can be remembered as somebody who worked to bring people together across South Africa, across Africa and the world, people like you and me, then I would die a happy man."
The resource centre was established in January this year by Kariega residents Athenkosi Nyiki, Siyabulela Boyson and Ziyanda Madlakane.
