BROWN paper bags containing treats, play dough and cookie cutters brought smiles “worth more than gold” to the faces of children at the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital on Wednesday.
Cape Argus editor Gasant Abarder and Expresso presenters Zoe Brown and Zola Nene treated children in the E Ward with a visit as part of giving back for Mandela Day.
Janine Heuvel, operations manager for the Friends of the Children’s Hospital Association, facilitated the visit and said such visits were important to the children.
“This serves as awareness to the public to show them that a little bit of their time goes a long, long way. The smiles on the children’s faces are incredible, not even gold is as valuable.”
Heuvel said she hoped more individuals would think of the children at Red Cross for their 67 minutes adding, “we are trying to get individuals to go beyond the 67 minutes”.
Mandela Day was started in 2009 and is used to commemorate late president Nelson Mandela by doing good deeds for 67 minutes for each of the years he spent fighting for equality.
The visitors interacted with the children, with Abarder saying it was a “great visit” and that he wished he could have been there for a longer period.
“We are a great country, with great potential. Just imagine if we gave 67 minutes every day, imagine the difference we would make.”
Brown said she had always been passionate about children and was glad she could spend some of her time with them.
“The children at the hospital are young kids that face challenging health issues. For me to just spend 67 minutes or more to make what they’re going through a little easier, I think that’s what it’s all about”
Her colleague, Nene, said it should be about more than 67 minutes and people should continue their “random acts of kindness” daily.
“You shouldn’t need a day to tell you to give back. However, it’s nice that everyone has a reason at the same time to do something outside of themselves or for someone else at the same time in a moment.
“Giving is always a good idea and it doesn’t just have to be one day.”
Five-year-old Wilbur Alexander, from Worcester, could not contain his excitement and left his bed to join children in the first room that was visited in the ward, in order to get his gift bag early.
His mother, Elizma, said despite having had a heart operation earlier this month, he was as boisterous as ever.
“I have three children and he is my youngest. He is still very busy as always and he knows why they are here. He knows Mandela and that he died,” she said.