Mandela gives Leamington charity the thumbs up

Jo Cave

01 May 2008

AN EDUCATIONAL charity based in Leamington has received the seal of approval from the world's most celebrated freedom fighter, Nelson Mandela.
Thare Machi Education (TME) - which has been devoted to improving the lives of impoverished women and children across the globe for seven years - received a letter from the former South African president praising their work.
And this week the charity will welcome the great man's nephew, Bishop Joseph Kobo, to Whitnash, where he will speak of his experiences fighting the Apartheid regime alongside his uncle in the 1960s.
As TME's work and reputation distributing dvds in tribal languages tackling issues like health and hygiene have spread, it has attracted the attention of a number of famous faces including designer LK Bennett and Goodness Gracious Me actress Nina Wadia.
But the support of political luminary and world-renowned race rights activist Mr Mandela is the icing on the cake.
In his letter to TME, he said: "I am impressed with the work you have initiated and the support you have been giving to humanity. Be encouraged in your endeavours to enhance the quality of life to others."
Bishop Kobo was imprisoned alongside his uncle on Robben Island off Cape Town on a charge of treason after joining the military wing of the ANC, an organisation which championed black rights and sought to depose a discriminatory all-white government.
While on death row he had a revelation from God and realised that the route to peace and security in South Africa did not necessarily involve violence.
After regaining his freedom, he set up a church mission to help poor people in the Eastern Cape and has since involved hundreds of members of his congregation in distributing lessons for TME in the Xhosa language.
Bishop Kobo will speak of his trials and triumphs at a special event at St Margaret's Church on Tuesday (May 6).
TME spokesman Steve Clarke: "We are delighted to be welcoming Bishop Joseph Kobo and his wife, Mabel, to Leamington – a visit which will give us the opportunity to further build our partnership links to South Africa’s Eastern Cape area.
"It is in this impoverished corner of South Africa that Joseph and Mabel are already using TME lessons to help educate people in basic life skills and part of their time in Leamington will be spent recording new lessons in the local language, Xhosa, which we know will be put straight to great use."
For more information on TME's work, got to the websitie, www.tme.org.uk.

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