Mandela Bangle, the pet project of Nelson Mandela, has joined together with Long Walk to Freedom, Soul City, Rotary International, Read Foundation, Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory, and the South Africa Department of Education in an initiative to supply fully-stocked “container libraries” (converted shipping containers) to as many disadvantaged schools in South Africa as possible. Several container conversions have been underwritten by corporations in exchange for branding on the containers. The Mandela Bangle bracelet is sold to raise additional funds. Ninety percent of the schools in South Africa do not have libraries. “Only 32 percent of all grade five learners in South Africa are literate. In our schools with libraries and reading programs, we have managed to improve that to 55 percent on average,” says Robert Coutts, CEO of Mandela Bangle. “Currently we influence just over 200,000 kids, but need to reach our goal of two million kids by the end of 2025 to have the desired impact on the socioeconomic development of youth in Southern Africa.” Coutts's goal is delivering 100 container libraries to schools, each serving 700–1000 children. To date, about 50 have been delivered. The beaded version of the bracelet (right) sells for $6.70; copper, silver, and gold styles are priced higher. The making of the bracelets has given some local people a sustainable weekly income. Residents are also being trained and employed in metal work, welding, painting, and installation of electrical wiring to transform the containers, designed to last for 25 years. The cost of each library is 195,000 Rand (about $14,500). Schools are selected with the help of the social justice organization Soul City. The libraries are stocked with inspirational titles chosen by Rotary International, Room to Read, Write Associates, Read Education Trust, Equal Education, and PRAESA. Mandela Bangle works with other organizations to provide books in regional languages. Although English and Afrikaans are the two official languages of South Africa, nine others are spoken, with Zulu being the most common. The final step in the process is training school personnel in how to maintain and restock the 5,000-volume collection. In addition, schools are expected to form book clubs. Ideally, within 15 years the container libraries will be replaced with permanent ones. The containers can then be “handed down” to a new location. Library openings are major events, often attended by celebrities and dignitaries. When the Phinduzame Intermediate School opened their library, South African actress Hlubi Mboya-Arnold visited (see video below). https://youtu.be/K7HdUqAt3Fs “The School Library Project program is a global initiative and involves people from all walks of life and locations,” says Coutts. He adds that the Texas chapter of Rotary International has a large role in storing, sorting, and shipping books.

Bracelets for sale at the Robben Island gift shop. Robben Island is where Mandela was imprisoned.

Meanwhile, two lifelong best friends, Peter and Conrad have made the project the beneficiary of their bike ride in the Joberg2C, a nine-day, 900 km, off-road mountain bike challenge. Peter wrote on his fund-raising page that he hoped that children along the route who receive a library will “discover new worlds through the magic of books and to let their imagination fly over mountains to dream of bigger and better things to come.” Their goal is to raise 60,000 Rand ($4,200), of which $490 has been pledged.