Over 16 days the “I am Constitution” campaign will celebrate South Africa’s achievements and ask South Africans to find constructive solutions to the country’s challenges.
“The innovative campaign aims to promote the values and benefits of the Constitution by encouraging interaction and dialogue among all who live in South Africa,” stated the Ichikowitz Family Foundation website, the project funders.
The foundation focuses on preservation of heritage, conservation of the environment and promoting nation building through education, activities and skills training.
The road trippers will host activities and educational workshops across Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga. They will share Bill of Rights posters, Constitution booklets, T-shirts, and stickers with communities they visit.
The foundation has partnered with Travel Massive, an organisation that connects travel industry insiders with free events all over the world, and the Ford Motor Company. It is hoped South Africans will see the Constitution as a living document that touches their daily lives.
The road trip began on Thursday 5 May 2016 and will include visits to heritage sites like iSimangaliso World Heritage Site, the Mbombela Stadium for a friendly soccer match in Nelspruit, and the Luthuli Museum, established in honour of the late Nobel Peace Laureate Chief Albert Luthuli.
Whoever crosses the paths of the #IamConstitution team on their trip, will be encouraged to make their voices heard by submitting recorded and written messages about what the Constitution means to them. The messages, images and videos captured on the journey will form part of a new exhibition at Constitution Hill opening on 10 December, the anniversary of the signing of the Constitution.
Spreading the #iamconstitution spirit at #indaba2016.#travelford #travelmassive #ichikowitzfamilyfoundation pic.twitter.com/B6ILA6OFgm
— Andreas Georghiou (@TheManWarrior) May 7, 2016
Student: "It's not about me knowing my rights only but knowing how to work them in the community as a whole" #Iamconstitution
— Hitekani (@BlacksDoSwim) May 10, 2016
An honour meeting Dr Albertina Luthuli as we handed over copies of the #constitution to learners. #IAmConstitution pic.twitter.com/Wa9cDeBk5j
— IG: Iga Motylska (@IgaMotylska) May 10, 2016
https://twitter.com/leratolb_/status/730331064170876929
'Stop, collaborate, listen' – cool street sign spotted in Richards Bay. #streetart #iamconstitution pic.twitter.com/YjdtbV54Id
— Meruschka (IG: @Mzansigirl) (@MzansiGirl) May 11, 2016
Let's protect our constitution. #IamConstitution 💙
— Zola Ndwandwe South African Activist 🔑👑💃🏽🇿🇦 (@ZolaNdwandwe) May 8, 2016
Ivor Ichikowitz, chairman of the Ichikowitz Family Foundation said: “In a multicultural country like ours, with many cultures, languages, religions, and traditions, our Constitution is our most precious asset.
“The Ichikowitz Family Foundation asks South Africa to review the dreams and hopes of all those who have gone before, to look at our Constitution and determine how far we have come.”
He also said he believes that the more heritage are included along the local tourist routes, the more the quality of life for residents can be improved.
Neil Jansson, Travel Massive chapter leader agreed: “Travel in Africa is all about the past, present and future. A visit to South Africa wouldn’t be complete without experiencing all three.
“In this the 20th anniversary of the South African Constitution, the road trip encourages South Africans to express their voices and explore how our Constitution gives us all the freedom to travel, to celebrate our multitude of cultures and languages, and explore our natural heritage.”
Dr Mathews Phosa, a veteran anti-apartheid activist, attorney and politician, said on Tuesday during a #IamConstitution debate at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg that the birth of our Constitution was the result of sacrifice.
“The constitution did not fly down from heaven like manna,” he told students university newspaper Wits Vuvuzela reported. Phosa continued saying he was impressed with how students were able to engage maturely with difficult topics, saying that “every generation defines the frontier of their struggles”.
The topics of debate included the intersectional struggles of students and the accountability of the Chapter 9 institutions. Others on the debate panel were Wits Student Representative Council President, Nompendulo Mkhatshwa, South African Human Rights Commission legal consultant Tshidiso Ramogale, and Student Law and Social Justice Gender campaign head Cherise Walker.
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