Mandela's Great Grandson Brings Peace Message to Toronto Kids

A special visitor walked into a Scarborough preschool last week carrying a photo of one of history's most famous peacemakers. Siyabulela, the great grandson of Nelson Mandela, came to Teach Me to Fly preschool to read young students a story about his great grandfather's fight for human rights.

The social justice scholar is spending several weeks visiting Toronto schools, universities, and police departments with a simple but powerful message. "We're talking about peace; we're talking about reconciliation," Siyabulela told Beach Metro Community News during his visit on February 19.

His timing feels urgent. At a moment when communities around the world are growing more divided, Siyabulela wants to remind people of the bridges his great grandfather built in South Africa.

Following in Nelson Mandela's footsteps, Siyabulela has dedicated his career to peace work. He previously served as Regional Project Manager for east and southern Africa at Journalists for Human Rights and taught politics and international relations at the University of Kurdistan Hewlêr in Iraq.

Now he's focusing his energy closer to the ground, where change often starts. His next stop is Neil McNeil Catholic High School on February 26, followed by Toronto Metropolitan University where he'll discuss his great grandfather's work as a lawyer fighting for justice.

The tour reaches across every layer of Toronto society. "From the schools to the police; from the police to the universities; from the universities to the corporate companies," Siyabulela explained.

His message draws directly from Nelson Mandela's groundbreaking work. In 1995, just one year after becoming South Africa's first Black president, Mandela established the Truth and Reconciliation Commission to heal wounds from apartheid.

That model inspired Canada to create its own Truth and Reconciliation Commission in 2008. The commission addressed the harm done through residential schools, bringing together survivors, Indigenous representatives, the federal government, and church bodies.

The Ripple Effect

What makes Siyabulela's tour special is his focus on starting conversations early. By visiting preschools alongside high schools and universities, he's planting seeds of understanding in the youngest minds while reinforcing those values in older students.

The approach mirrors his great grandfather's belief that reconciliation requires participation from everyone. Nelson Mandela spent 27 years in prison for fighting apartheid, yet emerged ready to work with former oppressors to build a better country.

That same spirit of bridge building is what Siyabulela hopes to spark in Toronto. His message about protecting fundamental human values and breaking down barriers between marginalized communities comes at a critical time for Canadian society.

Young children sitting on the floor of a Scarborough preschool might not fully grasp the weight of apartheid history yet. But they're learning something more immediate: that peace requires action, that reconciliation starts with conversation, and that one person's commitment to justice can echo across generations.