This Wednesday, 18 July is Mandela Day. Mandela Day was launched in 2009 and since then, has become a global movement to honour Nelson Mandela’s life’s work and act to change the world for the better. On Mandela Day it is encouraged to spend 67 minutes of your time giving back to society.
It doesn’t have to be an organised event or even something public. You can choose to do something personal, like spending 67 minutes with a loved one you don’t often see or spending the time helping someone you know who is going through a hard time. The aim is to go outside of yourself and help someone else, making a difference to them – be that something you choose to do privately or publicly.
If you prefer to get involved in an organised event, we’ve found some events and initiatives happening on Mandela Day you can sign up for.
Mandela Day Sandwich Project
When: Wednesday, 18 July 9am – 1 pm
Where: University of Johannesburg, Auckland Park
What: “3 minutes, 2 hands, 1 sandwich” is the slogan for this sandwich drive. You pay in R100 for bread and fillings, choose a 67-minute slot and come to assemble as many sandwiches as you can. The sandwiches are then distributed to students and surrounding communities in need.
Mandela Day Maker Space & ECD Showcase
When: Wednesday, 18 July 9am – 1 pm
Where: University of Johannesburg, Auckland Park
What: Spend your 67 minutes making a difference in a kid’s early childhood development by spending your time creating classroom resources for schools in need. The ECD showcase also spends time with teachers, teaching them how to use them and provide more educational and interactive learning experiences. There is also the option to donate.
Mandela Day at the KZN Children’s Hospital
When: Wednesday, 18 July 9am – 4 pm
Where: KZN Children’s Hospital
What: The KZN Children’s Hospital is doing a campaign whereby you can buy a brick for R100 to help them construct a rainbow tower. Other ways to get involve includes painting and cleaning
Mandela Day with La Lucia Mall and the Magic Bean Foundation
When: Wednesday, 18 July 9am – 5 pm
Where: La Lucia Mall
What: Donate 67 minutes of your time by lending a hand and learning a skill. Bring along your #singleuseplastic shopping and bread packets and learn how to recycle and recraft them into plarn (plastic yarn). The Magic Bean Foundation will use the plarn to make their beautiful range of products.
Mandela Day at Domestic Animal Rescue Group (DARG)
When: Wednesday, 18 July 10am – 2pm
Where: DARG, Hout Bay
Spend your 67 minutes playing with rescued animals, cleaning, sorting, making toys or planting herbs.
Mandela Day Soup Kitchen
When: Wednesday, 18 July 10am – 2pm
Where: Cape Quarter, Green Point
Come with a board, knife, peeler and bag of veggies and help make soup for the needy. Last year this soup kitchen made 1000L of soup to feed the hungry and this year they want to top that.
Obvs Pasta Kitchen
When: Wednesday, 18 July 4pm-7pm
Where: Observatory, Cape Town
The Obvs Pasta Kitchen serves hot bowls of pasta to the needy every single Wednesday. You can either choose to come early and help cook the pasta or later and help serve it. They also have a Wishlist you can add to.
Firewalk to Freedom for Mandela Day
When: Wednesday, 18 July 5pm – 8pm
Where: Magical Moments, Sandton
This is a fire walk with all sales going to Magical Moments, an organisation that creates “Magical Moments & Extra-ordinary Days” for abused, abandoned, disadvantaged, neglected, orphaned, underprivileged and vulnerable children in Johannesburg.
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