Red carpet celebrations for Sapinda Rainbow Project

A unique project which has taken 8 young South Africans from across the country to develop young community leaders of the future and raise international awareness and funds for the Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital - is today celebrating its association with the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund attending the Royal and UK premiere of the anticipated film of the year - Long Walk to Freedom.

Representatives of the Sapinda Rainbow Project and Clipper Race walked the red carpet of Leicester Square with thanks to the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund, in the presence of the TRH the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Nelson Mandela’s daughter, Zindzi Mandela.

During their journey, the Sapinda Rainbow Project had the honour of meeting Zindzi Mandela in Johannesburg. During the Cape Town stopover for Leg 2 the winning candidates visited the iconic Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for 18 years of his 27 year sentence.

For the ambassadors, the visit to the prison was a poignant tribute to Madiba as he is more commonly known, as they were born in the revolutionary years that the South African icon was released from prison, elected as president and went on to establish the fund.

The eight ambassadors are flying the flag for Nelson Mandela’s legacy and are an example of the strength of the youth of the country.

This week the Invest Africa entry left Albany in Western Australia to race its fellow competitors to Sydney to take part in the iconic Rolex Sydney – Hobart Race.  On board the Australian leg is Sapinda Rainbow Project ambassador Masibulele Libaya, a 22 year-old from Orkney, South Africa.

He says: “I’m really excited but a bit nervous naturally. I have been waiting for the race for a long time.

“I know I must stay positive whatever happens and keep pushing hard to never give up.  I must do my best for Invest Africa the boat and the crew and make the Sapinda Rainbow Project proud. I have heard about the film the Long Walk to Freedom and I will see it when I am back home after the race.

“I am really proud to be raising money for the NMCF as part of the amazing Clipper Race project. When I was in Cape Town and visited Mandela’s cell on Robben Island, it really made me feel inspired to push as hard as I can during the race while raising money.

“I am looking forward to seeing the Mandela hospital operating and being a successful candidate with experience in terms of my personal development and the impact that I am going to bring to my community.”

The Clipper Race fleet is expected to arrive in Sydney between 12-14 December.

IMAGE: Tony Kgoroge (left), Naomie Harris (second left), Zindzi Mandela (centre) Zenani Mandela and Idris Elba (right) arriving for the Royal Film Performance of Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, at the Odeon Leicester Square, London. Ian West/PA Wire/Press Association Images