NELSON MANDELA DAY: 67 minutes of outreach in honour of the 67 years Mr Mandela spent fighting for social justice and human rights . Photo: Stock Image
Nelson Mandela International Day, also known as Mandela Day, is a global event that occurs on July 18 each year in celebration of the late South African president Nelson Mandela’s birthday and his achievements
Nelson Mandela International Day, also known as Mandela Day, is a global event that occurs on July 18 each year in celebration of the late South African president Nelson Mandela’s birthday and his achievements.
Although the day is not a public holiday, it aims to encourage people across the world to reach out to their community and make a positive difference for 67 minutes. According to the Nelson Mandela Foundation, the 67 minutes are “in honour of the 67 years that Mr Mandela spent fighting for social justice and human rights”. Activities that individuals can get involved in include volunteering, sport, art, education, music and culture.
There are several events taking place in and around Johannesburg where students who are interested in getting involved can participate.
Join non-profit organisation Johannesburg Dream Centre in a Cosmo City clean up this Saturday between 8:45 and 13:00 on the corner of Nicaragua and Liberia Street, in Cosmo City Extension Four, where you can help run a community clean up and swop shop.
Join game and cultural emporium Dlala Nje, together with non-profit organisation Hotdogs for the Homeless SA, this Saturday from 11:00 to 16:00 by helping pick up papers in a “litter blitz” through the streets of Hillbrow. As well as handing out shoes and blankets to the less fortunate. Dlala Nje also encourages individuals to drop off blankets and/or shoes for distribution at Dlala Nje shop 1 Ponte City, 1 Lily Avenue, Berea.
Spend your 67 minutes at the Sparrow Foundation and Combined schools on Monday where individuals willing to get their hands dirty can help by painting classrooms, cleaning gardens and vegetable gardens or by simply making a donation. For more information contact Simphiwe@sparrowschools.co.za
If you not afraid of needles and weigh over 50kg, help save lives by donating blood to the South African Blood Service (SABS). Go to www.sanbs.org.za or SMS your name and postal code to 31454 to get details of a blood bank near you.
Sportier students can join non-profit organisation Football Solves Problems at Crawford Collage, Lonehill from 9:00 for a day of sporting fun. Individuals who are interested must register their soccer or netball team, at a cost of R67 per team on http://footballsolvesproblems.org by 15 July.
Alicia Swanepoel, director and founder of the Johannesburg Dream Centre says: “It is important for all people of all ages to get involved in communities and in changing lives for the better in their free time as that is how our country can heal itself. If South African[s] don’t reach out and help each other then we will never really overcome our battles. Mandela day is a great way to start the tradition of caring and create a spirit of Ubuntu amongst our people.”
leanne@witsvuvuzela.com
