Celebrating Mandela Day in South Africa
July 18th marks Mandela Day, an annual international day commemorating the lifetime of service Nelson Mandela gave to South Africa and the world. To mark the event, two Home Sharing Clubs in South Africa organised events that gave them the opportunity to give back to others in their local communities.
The Tirisano Home Sharing Club came together to cook for a group of elderly women in the community of Khayelitsha, supported by Khayelitsha-based organisation iKamva Labantu. iKamva Labantu is creating sustainable socio-economic change in Cape Town’s township communities by working with active community leaders to run development programmes for children, youths and senior citizens. The Home Sharing Club decided to support this local organisation, to show others in their community what giving a small amount of time can do for so many.
At the same time, the Johannesburg Home Sharing Club organised a visit to the Princess Alice Adoption Home, an orphanage that’s local to the Club and an organisation that they’ve been supporting over the years. Hosts helped to clean the orphanage and created a wonderful play area for the children who live there to enjoy. After their work, they all sat and shared a meal together.
The goal of the afternoon for both clubs was to take part in active citizenship and provide these wonderful organisations with help and support from the local community. Mandela Day encourages us all to celebrate the life and legacy of Nelson Mandela in the spirit of Ubuntu (I am because you are) and is an opportunity for us to set an example to our community so that they too can get involved with organisations on their doorstep to make even the smallest difference.
