H.E. Ambassador Zindzi Mandela

Dear Comrades,

I am honoured to be invited here today on the occasion of the 20th anniversary celebration of Crossing Borders. It was back in 2017 when I was asked to be a patron for Crossing Borders, and it was relatively easy for me to accept, because of the shared values that resonate well with mine. These values are the cornerstones and pillars of our humanity, of our being and our interactions with others.

Crossing Borders, in this Ubunto House you are located in, WE are the embodiment of humanity, camaraderie, learning together, sharing ideas and seeking solutions to removing the walls that divide us, together with the imaginary boundaries that are supposed to classify and separate us. Our mission is to cross the borders that stand in the way of intercultural, international and general dialogue between people. Our vision is to uphold the basic human essence of co-existence.

It is indeed refreshing to be with friends who choose to use their precious time and efforts in a mission so ideal and yet not impossible to achieve. It could be interesting to map your activities for the last 20 years. Comrade Garba and CB, you have given space and training to thousands of young people from around the world. These young people have received and continue to receive capacity building training in their societies and abroad, so that they can bring positive, life changing, human-focused democratic solutions to their societies.

Your engagements in presenting diverse nationalities and projects to Danish schools should also be applauded.  Though there have been successful trainings and projects internationally, you have never neglected the base from where you operate. The Danish youth needed to be activated too, they needed to be engaged and provoked in their beliefs. They needed to be reminded of life and current affairs outside and around the cosy and comfortable Danish system. You have brought globally-oriented youth from Nepal, Mexico, Ghana, Palestine, South Africa and other corners of the world to tell their stories, to enter into dialogue with the students in the North. The mission is huge, yet simple when you think of it. These are global citizens whose products are now crossing international borders daily, by road, air and sea. While we have acknowledged globalisation regarding exchange of goods and services, we should certainly embrace the human factor in that equation. All the way from Krogerup H?jskole to Ubuntu House, we continue to cross borders through intercultural exchange, internships,training, workshops and symposiums. Our youth return to their societies with a broader vision, with enriched skills and mindsets, refreshed and ready to tackle issues facing them and their societies.

 When it was not popular and fashionable, you started talking about the climate and migration, about our carbon footprints and environmental awareness campaigns. This has been the core of the many efforts that Crossing Borders has been involved in. You have provided space to train young climate ambassadors and activists who are steering campaigns and projects internationally. For this, I applaud you!!! I wish there were regional Crossing Border offices internationally, to maximise your efforts and impact.

Comrades and friends, our struggle is paralleled. It’s only 25 years ago that PPP (explain) was trusted with the task of building a democratic, non-sexist, multicultural and inclusive society in South Africa. It is never easy to embark on a mission when some are waiting to see you fail, or a mission that is compromised on various levels, at times due to a lack of funds or commitments that are never honoured.

However, Aluta-Nevertheless-Continua. It therefore becomes easier when you collaborate and work with like-minded people who believe in the project. To mention but a few, amongst others, a huge thank you to you Mr Jacob Holdt, for having opened your house, Ubuntu House, to Crossing Borders. You are one of a kind...the hand that gives, receives. To the Chairwoman of the Board of Directors, Ms Vibeke… and Mr Mariano Davies, Chair of the Advisory Board, it has been a pleasure. I promise you, I’m just a call, text or flight away from you.

To you coordinators, volunteers and interns, the engine of Crossing Borders, you are most appreciated. There is no Crossing Borders without you. We thank you for your countless, selfless efforts and for believing in the project. A round of applause to you!!! One notable thing about the engine here is the majority of females present. No wonder this family is so functional, operative and smoothly run. Look around, the United Nations gathered in Ubuntu House, with a proactive representation from all over the world. I stand by you when i say, I am because you are!

Last but definitely not least...To you comrade Garba, where do i start?! Maybe we should all start by giving you a standing ovation. You had an idea to pull down the walls, that crossing borders might be a good point of departure in getting people into dialogue. Allow me to copy and edit a summary on CB, by adding that Mr Garba Diallo has been promoting unity in diversity, intercultural meeting and international exchange toward realizing our common humanity and mutual dependency in a truly global community for 20 years. You give the young people food for thought, you provoke them, guide them and offer them space for creative thought and civil participation. Members of parliaments have been born after interacting with you, pro-active civil servants have been created under your supervision, reflective students continue to spread the word around in their schools and institutions. A few stubborn politicians and capitalists have been angry at you along the process, for raising the flag for the oppressed, marginalised and exploited communities internationally. Together with the team, you have created a voice to be reckoned with. I stand by you when i say, I am because you are!

I am sure that the relationship that we have established between Crossing Borders and the South African Embassy will continue even beyond my term. As my tour of duty is coming to an end, it is with sadness that I say goodbye to fellow comrades in Denmark who are echoing the voice of the voiceless.

We shall however continue to nourish our cordial relations based on mutual values of democracy, respect for human rights complemented with social and climate justice.

I remain a proud member of Crossing Borders family, and will echo to my diplomatic friends, about a vision that resonates with our Department of International Relations and Cooperation's vision. One that champions for a prosperous, peaceful, democratic, non-racial, non-sexist and united global citizenry in a world that is just and equitable.

I wish you all a pleasant evening and, once again, congratulations to the 20-year-old!

Crossing Borders - we are ALL in the same boat!

H.E. Zindzi Mandela, South Africa's Ambassador in Denmark