How you can pay it forward this Mandela Day

CAPE TOWN- Nelson Mandela International Day will look very different this year due to the Covid-19 outbreak, however, this has not stopped determined organisations from making an impact in their communities.

Inspired by the Congress of South African Students mantra, Each One Teach One, the Nelson Mandela Foundation is calling on South Africans to take action and play their part in the Covid-19

#Each1Feed1 campaign.

In partnership with the Siya Kolisi Foundation and the Imbumba Foundation, the campaign will look at the needs of child-headed households, the elderly, refugees and those in deep rural areas. This year, they hope to raise R500 000.

For more than ten years, Nelson Mandela International Day has mobilised individuals, governments, civil society and corporate entities to make the world a better place for all.

Here’s how you can help and pay it forward this year on Mandela Day:

Children:

Assemble a box of goodies for children in need

Christel House in Ottery invites you to use your 67 minutes to assemble an essential Covid-19 goodies bag for a student in need. The items which you can fill each bag with can include food parcels, cloth masks and hand sanitizer. Christel House encourages participants to value their food parcels at R150 so all kids receive the same amount. You can also fill it up with non-perishable items such as maize meal, rice, cooking oil or canned goods. When you're happy with your parcel you can drop it off at Christel House school on 17 July.

VFC - Mandela Virtual 67km Race

VFC calls on runners, cyclists and walkers in South Africa and around the world to take part in this virtual race. The 67km route will be superimposed via the companion app. All proceeds go to the Nelson Mandela Children’s fund.

Visit their

website

for entries and more information. Entry costs R250 per person.

Mama Themba

Even under the national lockdown, Mama Themba still strives to meet the needs of the mothers and babies in various Somerset West communities.

This year they the non-profit organisation will be donating Care Bags for mothers at Maccassar Hospital and at the Helderberg Hospital. Each Care Bag contains a mask, a blanket, warm baby outfits, jersey with a cap and booties, disposable nappies, sanitary pads, and baby toiletry items. For more information visit their

Facebook page.

Animals:

CROW - Centre for Rehabilitation of Wildlife

CROW is an organisation based in Durban that focuses on the conservation of all wild animals. The organisation has many ways to help on Mandela Day by either donating time while working on maintenance in and around enclosures, donating items off their Takealot wishlist or donations of any amount are welcome. Check it their Facebook page for more information.

Dogtown SA

South Africa - During the pandemic, Dogtown SA will not be hosting any physical events but ask all the help by donating R67 towards their Mandela Solar Project to help power an essential part of their facility that's dealing with regular power outages due to illegal connections caused by illegal connections in a township nearby. For more information, visit the Dogtown South Africa

Facebook page.

SPCA Rustenburg

SPCA Rustenburg is calling on artists of all ages to spend their 67 minutes by decorating the facility by painting murals on their walls. Donations are also welcomed. For more information visit their

Facebook page.

Food Drives:

Ladles of Love

Be a part of a world record this Mandela Day by participating in an attempt to make 125 000 sandwiches in an hour. Ladles of Love is calling upon Cape Townians to register and join in on the attempt that will be hosted live on Facebook with participants taking part in the safety of their own home. For more information visit Ladles of Love on

Facebook or e

nter

here:

The Coronavirus Action Committee

For over 10 weeks, the Coronavirus Action Committee, which is part of the Nelson Mandela Community Youth Centre, has been running food kitchens and distributing hampers in various communities.

In celebration of Madiba’s birthday the group will continue to feed those in need or have been affected by Covid-19.

For more information on how you can be part of this Mandela Day feeding initiative, contact Clive Pillay on 061-429-2574.

Paying the way forward- Winter food and blanket drive

As South Africa is in the middle of the coldest winter months, blankets, warm clothing and food are some of the most important items that can be donated.

Heading up the initiative, Latifah Jacobs says while a

dhering to all the necessary safety precautions the proceeds of the drive will be distributed to Sophia Town, the homeless in Kuilsriver, and to the elderly in these areas.

"The concept of Mandela day is important, but we should not only want to give back on this day. Our humanitarian acts should be part of our daily lives," she said.

Fundraisers:

Relate Bracelets

Purchase a Relate bracelet for only R35 with all proceeds donated to the Nelson Mandela School Project, an initiative that deploys libraries throughout the country positively impacting 80 000 children daily. Any donations are welcomed too. For more information visit their

website.

Take part in the Choc virtual quiz

The Childhood Cancer Foundation of South Africa (Choc) will host a national virtual Mandela Day quiz and is appealing for people to donate R67 each to their foundation. The top three winners in each provincial quiz will receive prizes. The quiz will start at 19:00 on Saturday.

For more information, contact [email protected] or phone 012-323-3490.

Moving For Mental Health

This Mandela Day move a little, breathe a little and give a little! For R67 per person or R134 per household, join Ikigai Yoga and Meditation Studio in raising funds for the Johannesburg Parent and Child Counselling Centre. All proceeds go towards the centre and providing mental health services to children and families in Johannesburg.