A Care Blessing

In her profound book Illuminating Care, Carol Garboden Murray recounts, "After apartheid, President Nelson Mandela traveled around his country, meeting in communities and speaking about rebuilding South Africa. He often spoke of the power of care and he always included the children and the elders as his highest priority. In his address at the dedication of Qunu and Nkalda School, he said: “'Our children are the rock on which our future will be built, our greatest asset as a nation. They will be the leaders of our country, the creators of our national wealth, those who care for and protect our people.' Among his many foundations, he established the influential Nelson Mandela Foundation, and The Elders. "We know he clearly saw the connection of both poles of life as he frequently asked everyone to repeat this ancient and sacred African blessing—which I now offer here as a blessing to you, as we walk this path together as pioneers on the frontier of the care revolution— “Let us take care of the children... for they have a long way to go. "Let us take care of the elders... for they have come a long way. "Let us take care of those in-between... as they are doing all the work.” All of us at Exchange Press and Dimensions Educational Research Foundation offer our deep gratitude for the care you each give in your work with and for children. Thank you for being part of our Exchange community of professional curiosity, connection, passion and growth!

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