Joe Slovo Foundation Established
Following 12 months in preparation, the establishment of the Joe Slovo Foundation was confirmed today in time for the 16th anniversary of Slovo's death on Thursday 6th of January. An official celebration is planned to launch The Joe Slovo Foundation towards the end of May to coincide with what would have been Slovo's 85th Birthday .
In keeping with Slovo's legacy, the Foundation's mission will serve to commemorate his life's work as well as raise funds towards accelerating sustainable progress for quality education and housing, two issues that were close to his heart as well as provide legal and professional services to those in need
"We are launching the Foundation not only to commemorate his death, but also to celebrate his life's work," said Martin Dolny, fund-raiser for the foundation "Despite significant progress, education and housing remain urgent priorities for this country. We need to empower South Africans of all ages with education, skills and opportunities.
In support of Joe Slovo Right to Learn Campaign the Foundation will prioritise e-skills, an area where there is particularly short supply. Additionally, the Foundation will focus on hastening the pace at which South Africans, can access low cost, quality housing. The Foundation will give priority for supporting the expansion of housing co-operatives to expedite the housing delivery, as well as legal and professional services - after all people will remember Slovo was a lawyer
Dolny (brother-in-law of Slovo) who is organising the first fund-raising launch said, "The Foundation has already received tremendous support and commitment from comrades and colleagues of the late minister and ANC hero as well as political parties, labour and business. The Foundation's purpose will be to mobilise further resources and act as an enabling agent for donors and Non-Governmental Organisations as well as Community-Based Organisations and as a catalyst to strengthen coordination and improve spending & reporting in these two areas. It is quite rewarding that despite all the vilification he received from the apartheid regime earlier in his life Joe is held in such high regard and with deep affection by people from across the entire spectrum of our rainbow nation and internationally".