In an effort to celebrate Nelson Mandela’s legacy the Nelson Mandela Foundation is urging the globe to join together in their bid to create an official Mandela Day (18 July). This day will not only be symbolic in celebrating the man who changed South African history, but will enable and encourage individuals to improve the circumstances of those around them. This global movement for positive change will only be made possible by individuals giving of themselves …
The 67 minutes campaign that will be taking place globally on 18 July 2009 asks that participants give 67 minutes of their time to make an imprint and in doing so impact on some of the following social issues human rights and civil liberties, hunger and poverty, education and literacy, health issues, environmental issues, social enterprise and economic development.
Your 67 minutes can be spent however you feel it would benefit those around you, you could work in a Soup Kitchen (as is Helen Zille, leader of the Democratic Alliance), visit the sick or elderly, be a volunteer or just make someone’s day better. Every little bit counts and 67 minutes is not much time at all considering Madiba has spent the past 67 years making the world a better place.
To inspire you here are some of the ideas where you can spend your 67 minutes: The South African National Blood Service will be holding a blood donation drive around South Africa, you can visit their website (link below) for details of drives in your area.
If you’re planning on visiting the Mandela House on Mandela Day be sure to write your message in the book on display as the Soweto Heritage Trust would like to present this book to the Foundation in honour of the day. Rekopane Inclusive Development Centre, a boarding centre for children under 10 years with multiple disabilities is inviting volunteers to help paint their premises, contact Tumi on +27 (0)11 022 3572 to volunteer.
Moyo Restaurants around South Africa will be donating 20% of the proceeds from the à la carte “Madiba Menu” to selected charities, so book your table now. The Librarian Association of South Africa will be cleaning up the environment and areas surrounding the libraries in Durban, Cape Town and Johannesburg, why not clean up the environment in your area?
The Imizamo Yethu Community will be working hard to clean up the Hout Bay area in Cape Town, contact Thozama on +27 (0)82 747-3142 to help. Or turn your 67 minutes into a long lasting project, why not make a vegetable garden and when the veggies are fully grown distribute them to clinics, schools and soup kitchens who could really use them. The Delta Park Vegetable Garden Club doing this in Johannesburg, but why not do this in your area?
Mr Mandela, we’d like to wish you a wonderful birthday and thank you for being such an inspiration to all people, however, I only know how to wish you Happy Birthday in 3 of the 11 official languages – but they are sincere and heartfelt …
Happy birthday, veels geluk met jou verjaarsdag (Afrikaans) and Imini emnandi kuwe (Xhosa). We hope that Mandela Day is a day that sparks change and improves the lives of those who most need it.
http://www.mandeladay.com/ – Mandela Day
https://www.nelsonmandela.org/ – Nelson Mandela Foundation
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