No matter how small your action, Mandela Day is about changing the world for the better, just as late former President Nelson Mandela did every day.
Every year on his birthday, 18 July, many South Africans devote 67 minutes to help others in his memory.
For Mandela Day this year, the Abagold Development Trust and volunteers of Abagold once again went out to create an unforgettable day for the children of the Overstrand.
Elaine Davie, Abagold Development Trust’s liaison officer, said the trust had identified early-childhood development centres in need around Zwelihle, Mount Pleasant, and Hawston. “We assisted by donating blankets and food baskets,” she said. “We don’t want to stop there, instead of doing this only on 18 July we are planning more projects for the rest of the year. This is also a great opportunity to get Abagold employees involved in the community.”
Volunteers visited Khanya Educare Centre, Caretaker and Izibusiso Foster Home 1 in Zwelihle, Woelwaters ECD in Mount Pleasant and Shiloh Educare Centre in Hawston on Mandela Day to hand donations of blankets and non-perishable food items, such as rice, mealie meal and pasta, over.
Sheila Lyle, chairperson of Izibusiso, thanked the trust for the donation to Izibusiso Foster House 1 and Izi 2 as well as their continued support since the first foster home was established.
Both Izibusiso homes cater for six children each until the children can be adopted and placed in “forever homes”. One of their success stories, said Lyle, is a little boy who lived at Izi for nearly seven years before being placed in a foster home.
The trust also donated 700 LED lanterns, notebooks and pens to Grade 12 students and teachers at Qhayiya Secondary School in Zwelihle, Gansbaai Academia and Hawston Secondary School.
