Yesterday was World Hunger Day, which offers a stark reminder that all is not well in our world and that millions of people are starving every day. Being truly hungry, with a growling stomach and no snacks within reach, is something most of us struggle to imagine.
This is why this year, we are more determined than ever to make our Mandela Day events more impactful and far-reaching than any we have held before. Our reasoning is that the awareness, funds raised and items made will enable us to feed and support small children, teachers and principals in our poorest communities.
Today is a big deal for us, as it sees the tickets go on sale for our 7th Mandela Day initiative, which will be our biggest event to date. We are focusing on – quality space and time for volunteering, enabling folk to do two-hour shifts and help make every day a Mandela Day for the children we support.
When we spoke to Yolanda Jones, our Programme Director, about volunteering, she shared:
“Have you noticed how massively volunteerism has grown over the past five years, especially in the workplace? We are seeing this daily with the uptake in bookings for our teambuilding events.
Mandela Day is the one day of the year where everyone wants to get involved and ‘do good for good’. Why? Ubuntu. Nelson Mandela himself was the greatest icon of ubuntu. Because you feel fantastic knowing that someone less fortunate is going to benefit from something you’re physically doing to help them. The ethos of ubuntu means – I am, because WE are – we are interconnected and when we volunteer, we feel that connection.”
With this in mind, we aim to provide a platform for tens of thousands of people to volunteer this year, and it gives us pride and pleasure to announce our venue partners who, thanks to their foresight, corporate social investment and collaboration, have allowed us to grow exponentially this year.
Give it up for the kind decision-makers and teams at – DHL Stadium in Cape Town and Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit in Johannesburg. Now you, our amazing supporters can book groups to do team builds and have fantastic spaces to volunteer and make, create, craft or grow items for preschool children.
Our Mandela Day website page is live, and this will guide you, providing all the information you need to use our new ticketing system or large group booking concierge service.
