Stories, Smiles and Madiba’s Legacy at Sanctuary Mandela

On Mandela Day 2026, the Nelson Mandela Foundation partnered with Sanctuary Mandela for a special reading session. The guests of honour were children from the Vincent Tshabalala Trust in Alexandra.

Our resident storyteller, Mathabo Tlali, known to all as Auntie Mathabo, brought Madiba’s story to life. She read the children’s adaptation of Long Walk to Freedom. 

Through her storytelling, a new generation got to meet Madiba. They learned about his life, his values, and the legacy he left behind — all through the joy of books.

This session was part of our Making Reading Fun programme. Through it, we work all year to keep Madiba’s belief alive: that education can change lives. By helping children fall in love with reading, we help them build their own futures.