South African Embassy in Greece devoted International Nelson Mandela Day to the Melissa Network

6 August 2024

On 25 July, the South African Ambassador, Dr Lindiwe Msengana-Ndlela accompanied by South African staff members honoured this year’s International Nelson Mandela Day with theme: “It is still in our hands to combat poverty and inequity” by devoting Nelson Mandela Day of Service to the Melissa Network.

The Melissa Network is a non-profit organisation for migrant and refugee women in Greece promoting empowerment, communication and active citizenship. As Nelson Mandela had said: “No one should be denied their freedom, and no one should be turned into a refugee.”

The South African Embassy was welcomed by the founders of the Melissa Network: Dr Nadina Christopoulou, Click Ngwere, Deborah Valencia and Maria Ohilebo, the Board Members and the greater Mellisa Network family.

The Ambassador commended the Melissa Network for establishing a multilingual library for children and teens: the “Stories from All Over the World”. The South African Embassy and staff members donated books to enrich the organisation’s new library.

In her address to the Melissa Network family, Ambassador Msengana-Ndlela drew parallels between the migrants at the Melissa Network and George Bizos who arrived in South Africa as a refugee from Greece, during the 2nd World War, at the age of 14 years. The Ambassador spoke about the long-lasting friendship that existed between Nelson Mandela and George Bizos, who, as a lawyer, dedicated his life to defending human rights. 

Dr Christopoulou expressed her heartfelt thanks to the South African Embassy for their support over the years and indicated that she hopes to see continued cooperation between the Melissa Network and the Embassy of South Africa, in Greece. 

South African Embassy in Greece