Spelling Bee unites Africa at the Cradle of Humankind

The Mzansi Spelling Bee is a growing movement to get South Africa’s children to fall in love with words. The love of words and education is the one gift that South Africa can offer our children. Through words we can raise confident children with the power to dream, create, break boundaries and explore the world.

"Everyone should go for what they want to achieve and not give up"

- Zameer Dada on the iStart2 Show

Nine #Bee organisations from Botswana, Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Nigeria, Malawi, Uganda and Zimbabwe will be taking part in a first-ever African Spelling Bee competition scheduled to take place at the Cradle of Humankind on Saturday 16 July 2016. Please join us and support our children. Entry is free. 

Spelling Bee Team Zimbabwe arriving at OR Tambo Airport

We chatted to Zameer Dada, a former Spelling Bee winner and his Mom, Kuraysha on the iStart2 Show this week. Zameer will be part of the team representing South Africa at this extraordinary event. Best of luck to all the participants!!


To listen to a podcast of the show, click play below:



Thought of the day:


As we approach Nelson Mandela Day, make an effort to create a better society by applying to partner with the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund here

"Most adults won't step on a stage and spell. Think about it." 

Ntsako Mkhabela, founder of the Mzansi Spelling Bee. 

Follow-up Story:

Congratulations!!

We are proud to announce that Zameer Dada won the African Spelling Bee Competition. Well done South Africa!

Sustainability Conversations ... Children of Africa Unite #MandelaMonth 2016

 Artist: Mbongeni Buthelezi

The 2016 Mandela Day will again be a worldwide commemoration and celebration of the life, philosophy and achievements of one of the biggest heroes of our time.

What Mandela Day Means

Mandela Day is based on the idea that if every individual dedicates a short amount of time to making the world a better place, there is immense potential for collective good to flourish. Mandela Day is a call to action for every individual, group, corporate, to take responsibility for making the world a better place, one step at a time, in response to areas of need within their communities and guided by means at their disposal
 
The Mzansi Spelling Bee is a group of passionate individuals who play their part in creating a better South Africa. They take Nelson Mandela's quote of "Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world" to heart.

Ntsako Mkhabela, the founder, is a strong believer in improving literacy in South Africa one word at a time; one child at a time. This initiative has grown from a single province spelling bee in 2012 with 200 spellers to being in 9 provinces with thousands of spellers in this, the fifth season of the Mzansi Spelling Bee. 

The Mzansi Spelling Bee is a growing movement to get South Africa’s children to fall in love with words. The love of words and education is the one gift that South Africa can offer our children. Through words we can raise confident children with the power to dream, create, break boundaries and explore the world. Get involved in the Spelling Bee here.

The Palace of Justice was the venue for the historic Rivonia Trial (1964) involving Nelson Mandela. In 2002 the entire interior of the building was renovated, except for the holding cells below ground level. Mandela and his fellow trialists found themselves in one of these cells on every day of the trial. The walls of the cell carry messages left by generations of political prisoners.

The Nelson Mandela Foundation released photos of graffiti in the holding cells at the Palace of Justice, Pretoria. Read more here

Mbongeni Buthelezi is the epitomy of Sustainability through Art. He has made a name for himself in contemporary art through his use of waste plastic. Buthelezi "paintings" are made of waste plastic, which he cuts into little pieces and melts, with a heat gun, onto a plastic canvas. This man is unique in making his contribution to a more sustainable world.

The Nelson Mandela Children's Hospital

Madiba had a dream of establishing a dedicated children's hospital. In 2016, NMCH is rapidly nearing completion. The Nelson Mandela Children’s Trust strives to change the way society treats its children and youth. This long-term vision captures the central role society plays in shaping children’s lives. To make your contribution in helping Mandela's dream come true, click here

 

Children of Africa Unite on the iStart2 Show today. Nine #Bee organisations from Botswana, Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Nigeria, Malawi, Uganda and Zimbabwe will be taking part in a first-ever African Spelling Bee competition scheduled to take place in Johannesburg, South Africa, over the next few days. Today we chat to Zameer Dada, a former Spelling Bee winner  and his Mom, Kuraysha. Zameer will be part of the team representing South Africa in this extraordinary event. Best of luck to all the participants!!

Keitu Gwangwa & Pierre du Toit host the iStart2 Show on Thursdays at 17h30. Radio Today broadcasts on 1485 MW (AM) in greater Johannesburg and countrywide on ‪#‎DStv‬ audio channel 869. 

Radio Today also streams globally on www.1485.org.za. 

Something to think about ...

"For to be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains,

 but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others"

- Nelson Mandela

Mzansi Spelling Bee ... Ntsako Mkhabela

"Most adults won't step on a stage and spell," says our Sustainability Hero of the Week, Ntsako Mkhabela on the iStart2 Show. "Think about it." 

"iStart2 make children believe in themselves ... 

each word nerd is a kid who says I CAN"
- Ntsako Mkhabela

The Mzansi Spelling Bee is a national English spelling challenge for spellers ages 9-17 or currently doing Grade 4-11 in South Africa.  The Mzansi Spelling Bee uses game, competition, social media new media and live spelling bee events to nurture a love for language and words. 

The Mzansi Spelling Bee is a unique hybrid spelling bee making the best of new media and technology to reach deeper into South Africa while going back to the basic ABCs of language and the spelling bee.  Technological innovation allows the Mzansi Spelling Bee to live in a virtual space that allows thousands of spellers from across South Africa to be part of the community of spellers and word nerds. 

"I teach people how to read and make sure that we have an Africa that grows up literate. Children are waiting to be challenged. If you think kids are not clever it is an act of disrespect. In sports we think they can ... when it comes to the mind we think they can't," says Ntsako.

Lots of fun in the studio with a woman who is passionate about word nerds, donkeys, literacy and making a real difference in our country. To listen to the show, just click play:




Thought of the Day:

For our friend Karen Kotze ...

If you can dream—and not make dreams your master;
If you can think—and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same
-  Rudyard Kipling, written in 1895