As Human Rights Day Approaches, Kagiso Trust commemorates the life of Dr Beyers Naudé, who embodied values of reconciliation, sacrifice, integrity, and genuine humanity throughout his life. A patron who selflessly fought for human rights in education that remain a struggle even today.

The celebration of Human Rights Day in South Africa on 21 March 1960 reminds us of the sacrifices that were made for our freedom and many of the rights we now enjoy. This public holiday serves as a reminder of the individuals who marched and the lives that were lost in the struggle for a just and equal society with basic human rights.

Despite years of activism, our current education system is still suffering. The ongoing state of dilapidated and under-resourced schools in South Africa is a glaring example of the ongoing fight for quality education, which has yet to be addressed and improved.

Many children still receive education in poorly equipped schools with inadequate infrastructure, depriving millions of learners, teachers, and communities of the resources needed to prepare them for a future where they can make meaningful contributions to economic growth.

In addition, the challenge of pit toilets continues to persist, with children losing their life due to lack of access to safe sanitation facilities. Mostly recently, a 3 year old child tragically drowned on 10 March inside a school pit latrine toilet in Lady Frere, in the Cacadu district of the Eastern Cape.

Education is a fundamental human right, as well as a goal set by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) as a crucial objective for a peaceful, sustainable and prosperous planet. The SDG goal emphasises the significance of providing inclusive and equitable access to education and fostering opportunities for lifelong learning for all.

“To Kagiso Trust, education is a flagship and a strategic pillar that we focus on for a prosperous, peaceful, equitable and just society.” Says Mankodi Moitse, the CEO of Kagiso Trust. “We are committed to working to ensure that all South African children have access to quality education. It is the key to unlocking a better future for our country and its people.”

Similar to the events that founded Human Rights day, a big impact to improving education requires the collective efforts of many. The late Beyers Naudé once expressed that education is a shared responsibility within society, and everyone must contribute to empower the next generation.

“We believe that education is a fundamental human right that must be accessible to all,” said Moitse. “As we enter Human Rights Day, we ask, leaders, schools, civil societies, NGOs and community members to join us as we remember the importance of this public holiday and the great activists that have fought for our human rights. We ask that you join us as we work together to ensure that every child has access to quality education.”

Kagiso Trust work to overcome poverty by developing and implementing scalable, replicable, sustainable development programme models in the areas of education development, socio-economic development, local governance support, civil society support and financial sustainability. For more information see www.kagiso.co.za

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