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Mama Africa reaches out
27/04/2003 08:30 - (SA)
Welcome Skosana
Johannesburg - Mirriam Makeba, South Africa's legendary music sensation, is truly living up to her nickname of "Mama Africa". She will next month launch the Makeba Rehabilitation Centre For Girls in Midrand.
The centre will provide a safe and habitable place for destitute girls of between 15 and 18 years.
It will also help contribute towards sound physical, mental and spiritual health among the girls and bring about self-respect, promotion of dignity, maintenance of integrity and love.
The centre will be launched on May 9 at Gallagher Estate in Midrand.
A dinner has been organised for the occasion where Makeba will perform alongside other artists.
The first fundraising campaign for the centre began in 1997. It has so far been supported by numerous corporates, the department of social welfare, non-governmental organisations from abroad and individuals.
The centre's co-ordinator Dumisani Motha said the project will be used as the headquarters of eight similar centres to be built in the other provinces.
"I am helping them to raise funds to put up this shelter. We hope to make a difference in the lives of many young people," he said.
Plans are already afoot for a similar centre to be launched towards the end of the year or early 2004 in KwaZulu-Natal.
Makeba, in a statement released from the US this week, said she believes when "you educate a woman, you educate a nation".
She is in the US to attend the funeral of jazz great Nina Simone.
- City Press
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South Africa
