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WINDOW ON CANADA - PROFILE

By Dilnoor Panjwani

Once again, Bahadur Madhani has come into the limelight in the sphere of humanitarian work, as he was recently appointed President of the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund (Canada). 

In many influential circles, Madhani is considered an apt and best person for the job, as he has held senior positions in notable charitable institutions, including the chair of United Way.  His remarkable track record raising funds for humanitarian causes, with a burning desire to help the poor and the needy, had deservedly earned him the Order of Canada.  He is now taking his compassion beyond the continent to the poorest children of South Africa, in order to fulfill the promise and realise the dream of Nelson Mandela!

In an exclusive interview, Madhani modestly stated, "My motivation to take up the new position was that I was born in Africa.  I was brought up and raised in Tanzania, Africa, and then went to England and Canada.  Wherever I lived, I was able to volunteer my time, but in Africa I never had the opportunity to give back.  Africa gave so much to my family and myself, and here would be my chance to do something in return.  So let's see what we can do to help the children of South Africa."

Madhani painted a brief historical perspective: "When Nelson Mandela emerged from prison in 1990, after 27 years of never being able to hold a child, he vowed to make a difference for the children of South Africa, who suffer as a result of poverty, political and communal strife.  AIDS is endemic and a lot of children are affected. Many parents die of AIDS, leaving small children behind to fend for themselves.

"The Nelson Mandela Children's Fund was founded and chaired by Nelson Mandela after his election as President in South Africa in 1994.  Today, 34 million dollars have been raised worldwide, helping 120 projects affecting 20,000 children in the poorest parts of South Africa.

"In Canada, the Fund was launched and first board of directors was selected in 1996 during Mandela's first visit to Canada (the event at Sky Dome attended by 45,000 children).  Aside from the one million dollars funding by Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), public fundraising hadn't started until now.  We are hoping to get funds from Canadians and the target is one million dollars within the next 12 months."

Nearly half a million dollars were raised recently at The Special Evening in Honour of Nelson Mandela accompanied by his spouse Graça Machel, held at the home of Gerry Schwartz (Onex) and Heather Reisman (Indigo Books).

Among the sponsors, donors and special friends that attended the $5000-a-plate- dinner were Hon. Hilary and Galen Weston, federal ministers, members of parliament, Investment bankers, media titans and political icons including the chief executive officer of every major Canadian bank. Baljit and Harkeet Chadha (Chadha Family Foundation), Bahadur and Polly Madhani, and Nutan and Suresh Bhalla, a movie producer and property developer, were amongst them.

Donations to the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund (Canada) can be mailed to:

1063 McNicoll Avenue, Toronto, Ontario M1W 3W6 CANADA
Tel: 416-496-8403; Fax: 416-497-0686; Toll Free: 1-866-763-1453
e-mail: info@mandela-children.ca    website:  www.mandela-children.ca

(This article first appeared in December issue of Canadian Asian News published from Toronto, Canada.)