A number of influential Nelson Mandela Bay personalities including political activist and author Khusta Jack launched an initiative on Monday to mobilise resources to take back schools and communities in dire need of intervention.
Attended by school governing body provincial chair Mongameli Peter, NMU dean of students Luthando Jack and Black Management Forum deputy president Dumisani Mpafa, the Alumni Community initiative is aimed at giving back to disadvantaged communities through skills and knowledge sharing as well as financial support.
It is spearheaded by MPL Thando Mpulu.
“This is an initiative, not a project, but a campaign – a movement,” Mpulu said.
“We want to challenge everybody to go back to your own school and invest in it – not only financially but with skills as well.
“We want alumni to have a say in our schools. Through reclaiming our schools we are reclaiming who we are.”
At the launch, which took place at the Nangoza Jebe Hall in New Brighton, Mpulu called on successful individuals to return to their schools and communities to mobilise resources and offer support.
“These are things that preoccupy us, we must come back and remind ourselves of our schools,” Mpulu said.
The initiative seeks to find examples of individuals who have made a name for themselves, then to see how they can help their community before capturing them on a database.
Guest speaker Jack said the initiative was extremely important in the current sociopolitical and economic landscape.
“We have schools [in disadvantaged areas] which have produced great people. We can only move forward if we produce the best amongst ourselves,” Jack said.
Highlighting the importance of honouring and incorporating national heritage through education, Jack said: “If you are born in Africa, your heritage becomes an African heritage [and] your values must pass from generation to generation – these practices are valuable to any nation.
“I will be part of this [initiative] so that we can use our potential and harness the abilities of our nation,” Jack said.
Fellow guest speaker Phumelela Zonela said he believed some schools should be declared heritage sites, especially those which produced legends.
“Our cultural heritage is bigger than that of the ANC. If we don’t act soon, it will be lost and that is why this initiative is so important,” Zonela said.