In Honour of our Patrons

Childline has been deeply blessed by 15 years of patronage of Mrs Leah Tutu and His Grace, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, extraordinary South Africans and international icons. Their spiritual wisdom has guided our management, staff and children and we appreciate the great contribution they make, continuing to shine their love and light, as we collectively strive to co-create a peaceful South Africa for our children.

We reflect hereunder on some of their beliefs and their call to all to make the world safe for children.

The Archbishop speaks eloquently of that spark of God within us all, manifest by our ability to co-create life through the conception of children, in the image of God and (hopefully) in the spirit of love.  It is a great responsibility to nurture this new and initially, totally dependent life, in both earthly and spiritual traditions.  Through relationship with loving care-givers and responsive communities, children develop their humanity and grow in awareness of Ubuntu.  Through the teaching of our children, we honour ourselves, our ancestors and future generations.

He urges us to proudly uphold our African culture in the reconstruction of South Africa: through the principle of African Humanism where there is no separation between the spiritual and the secular; being rooted in a deep sense of belonging and connection to community; in standing for the truth; and to live in compassion for others.  “God’s will has to do with what is right, just, decent and healing of the wounds of society  …and that the rights and dignity of even those who society regards as insignificant are to be treated with respect.  Only when this lesson is learned will there be peace.” Archbishop Tutu - Prophetic Witness in South Africa (1996 pg 44).

In celebrating our glorious diversity, whatever our race, gender, education, religion, sexual orientation and social or economic status we are all equal, deserving of respect and the right to be autonomous.  He advocates a life that is guided by cooperation, interdependence, sharing, caring, compassion and complementarity.

He has always maintained his childlike nature, reminding us to keep hope alive and maintain that faith that can move mountains – not by denying our country’s difficulties but to continue to “become more human, living in an environment that is hospitable to people, where they matter, where justice and compassion and caring are at a premium”.  Archbishop Tutu - Prophetic Witness in South Africa (1996 pg 53).  However, forgiveness and reconciliation can only occur in the presence of the truth.  He steadfastly maintains his belief in the possibility of ‘transfiguration’ through human hands and that the good within all people will triumph over the evil in the world. 

He holds up a vision of our world which he shared at Westminster Abbey on the 50th anniversary of the United Nations: “…so let us go forth and celebrate this jubilee and hold before the world the dream of the UN, its vision for a world of peace, of equality, of freedom, of love, of caring, sharing, compassion, of laughter and joy (Tutu 1995).  Archbishop Tutu - Prophetic Witness in South Africa (1996 pg 55).

We at Childline celebrate the lives of our patrons, honour their contribution to the world and heed their call to make the world safe for children and invite you to join us in this journey.