Arts and Culture Deputy Minister, Ms Rejoice Mabudafhasi, MP invites members of the media to the launch of the Braille National Identity Booklet for the visually impaired and Mandela Month Celebration. The event will take place on Tuesday, 19 July 2016 at Filadelfia Secondary School, Soshanguve Block L in Pretoria, Gauteng.
The launch of the Braille National Identity Booklet is amongst others aimed at educating learners and citizens about the National Symbols, encourage a culture of singing the national anthem at schools’ assembly in all schools as well as inculcating and entrenching a sense of patriotism amongst visually impaired people across racial divides. The Deputy Minister will also announce the participation of Rhulani Baloyi, a renowned visual-impaired journalist and television presenter who has volunteered to be the ambassador for the National Identity Braille Booklet Campaign.
Developed by Lesego Community Foundation in support of the Department, the Braille National Identity Booklet initiative serves as an extension of the Department of Arts and Culture’s Flag in every School programme aimed at educating learners and citizens about nation building and social cohesion. The programme includes the promotion of the National Anthem; and the recitation of the Preamble of the Constitution and installation of the National Flag in schools amongst others.
Lesego Community Foundation has developed the braille materials, targeting 10 schools nationwide for the pilot project of which 5 are in Gauteng, Pretoria: Filadelfia Secondary School, Garankuwa Special School, Magalies Special School, Pretoria North School, and Hammanskraal Special School. The remaining 5 schools are also identified in Mpumalanga, KwaZulu Natal, Eastern Cape and Limpopo Province. The project is a partnership between the Department of Arts and Culture, Lesego Community Foundation and the Gauteng Department of Education.
“National Symbols have a unifying role as they present the citizens of each country with the common identity. Symbols can be a statement of intent and a road map in which younger generation of any race can move South Africa forward”, said Deputy Minister Mabudafhasi.
Also as part of Nelson Mandela Month activities, Deputy Minister Mabudafhasi will devote her 67 minutes of community work at the school in honour of former president and international icon the late Nelson Mandela. This is in recognition of his values, legacy of humanitarian acts, voluntary initiatives, culture of peace and freedom.
The launch will be held as follows:
Date: Tuesday, 19 July 2016
Time: 7h30
Venue: Filadelfia Secondary School, Soshanguve Block L, Pretoria
For RSVP: Obed Makgoale: obedM@dac.gov.za; Cell: 079 311 8546 or Madimetja Moleba, madimetjaM@dac.gov.za; Cell: 072 842 6594
Media Enquiries: Deputy Minister’s Spokesperson, Peter Mbelengwa: 082 611 8197/ petermb@dac.gov.za
