MANDELA DAY 2026
Watch how we did it in 2025!
Now, diarise the dates for 2026.
Flagship event Cape Town
Wed 22 July 2026
Flagship event Johannesburg
During month of July
CYO event Anywhere in the world
Join us at our Mandela Day 2026 flagship events.
We invite you to be part of our next event on Friday, 17 July 2026, at DHL Stadium and Wednesday, 22 July at EXPO Centre Johannesburg.
Let’s work together to bring our vision to life. – Corporate bookings open on Wednesday, 2 April 2026.
Email Lwazi Mhlangana at tickets@ladlesoflove.org.za to secure your spot. – We’re actively seeking sponsorships for our events and volunteer activation stations.
Email Lauren Bright at nmd@ladlesoflove.org.za to explore sponsorship and corporate social investment opportunities.
Together, let’s make every day a Mandela Day for preschool children in underserved communities of South Africa.
A Giant Thank You
To everyone who contributed to our success, we extend our deepest gratitude. Your support has brought us closer to our vision of alleviating hunger amongst all children in South Africa.
Together, we made a difference this Mandela Day!
What you did at the Volunteer Activation Zones…
MAKE Activation Zone
This Mandela Day, love took action — and the impact was huge!
Together, we packed food supplies that will keep preschool children, their teachers, and carers nourished every single day. Volunteers built Buckets of Love filled with hearty dry goods, packed Love Food boxes bursting with essentials, and spread thousands of sarmies made with care.
And the finishing touch? Your creative labels, notes, and wishes turned every parcel into more than food — they became bundles of hope and joy.
CREATE Activation Zone
You brought learning to life!
Thanks to your creativity, preschool children and teachers now have colourful posters and fun colouring-in books to support early childhood development. For many underserved Educare centres, these resources are a game-changer — giving kids the tools to learn, grow, and dream big.
CRAFT Activation Zone
You gave the gift of play!
For many of the preschools we support, toys are a rare treasure. This Mandela Day, volunteers crafted pillow dolls with love — each one a priceless gift for a child to call their own. From peace dolls to cars, taxis, jeeps, buses, and the ever-popular squish dolls, every creation was coloured, stitched, and tagged with care.
GROW Activation Zone
You planted seeds of hope!
This Mandela Day, volunteers created edible garden kits that keep on giving — growing fresh veggies while teaching children, teachers, and parents the value of growing their own food. Each kit was carefully packed with containers, soil, seeds, and a step-by-step guide — all wrapped with a heartfelt message of love.
