Freedom Park is euphoric and deeply honoured to take ownership of a customized mobile exhibition truck from SAPESI (South African Primary Education Support Initiative).
What makes this so significant is that the truck will take Freedom Park to the people, to the people in the nine provinces, and especially the indigent communities, the rural, schools, South African youth and neighbouring countries going forward. It will take its message of patriotism and pride in our identity, culture, history and heritage.
In Youth Month we remember the vital role that our youth played in attaining the democracy and freedom we enjoy today. It is, however, crucial that we also educate the youth of today that there are many more freedoms than only the political kind. The Constitution grants us certain rights – the right to a clean and safe environment, to sanitation and drinking water. But these rights also come with certain responsibilities. Failure to care for the environment we live or teaching our children to do so will cost us dearly in the years to come.
At Freedom Park everything is representative of our history, heritage, culture, spirituality and indigenous knowledge. Even the 360° view of the capital city from Salvokop Hill symbolises a link between the past, present and future. From here you can see the Voortrekker Monument – a reflection of the past.
The Union Buildings – our current governance; and UNISA’s Centre of Knowledge – engendering a sense of knowledge and development for the future. Freedom Park is a monument to human rights, dignity and freedom, and a memorial to those who have sacrificed their lives to secure liberty. It tells the South African and African story, dating back 3.6 billion years to the dawn of humanity, through the rise of African civilisations, colonialism, the struggle against apartheid, and on to present-day democracy. It is primarily a cultural institution comprising a series of memorial sites that express the common themes of humanity and freedom. Compelling and distinctive African architecture, archives, landscaping, sculpture, and image.
