How are you planning to spend your 67 minutes?

MALALANE – July 18 was officially declared Nelson Mandela International Day in November 2009 by the United Nations and the first Mandela Day was celebrated in 2010.

The aim is to help fight poverty and inspire people to start giving to others, if only for 67 minutes, in the hope that this will lead to longer involvement.

South Africans and others who celebrate the day around the world are encouraged to not just raise funds or give donations, but to give their time and expertise to a worthy cause.

READ: Nelson Mandela Day: A timeline of Madiba’s 100 years

Consider your skills and a cause close to your heart and approach a related organisation to find out what they need. Some organisations appreciate people volunteering or donating services like electrical repairs, painting buildings or feeding animals more than just a cheque.

Here are a few ways you can reach out to people in need in the area

• Uthandiwe Children’s Home:

Currently the only place of safety in the Onderberg, north of the N4, the Malalane orphanage provides young victims of crime or orphans with a safe haven. It is often in need of people to provide services to help do maintenance or upgrade the property’s dilapidated facilities. It also appreciates donations in the form of food, volunteers spending time with the children or educational activities.

READ: More places of safety needed in Malalane

• School feeding projects:

Most schools, including those in the formal towns in Nkomazi, have feeding projects. In the villages, these projects rely on vegetable gardens and donations of meat to keep running. For some children, this is their only meal of the day.

Schools in the town usually provide kids with sandwiches or basic lunchboxes and some also try to gather funds to assist children with medication and other basic needs their parents may not be financially able to fulfil. Contact the school to find out if you can gather donations, funds or help to prepare the meals.

READ: Konsert samel duisende vir Komati-voedingskema in

• Wild and Free Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre:

If you would like to assist with the care and rehabilitation of wildlife, this a great cause to support. It has helped hundreds of animals ranging from bushbabies to large birds. The organisation is regularly in need of funds for its running and vet costs, as well as to expand its enclosures for the animals. Volunteers are carefully vetted and need to be invested for the long term.

READ: Wildlife experts share the cold truth about rehabilitating animals

• Barberton SPCA and Pro-Life Pet Rescue:

If domestic animals are close to your heart, you can help organisations like the SPCAs in Barberton, White River or Mbombela or Pro-Life Pet Rescue in Mbombela. These organisations rescue mistreated animals (the majority of which are dogs and cats), helps them recover and rehome them. They are always in need of blankets, food and funds to pay vet bills. They could also need volunteers or services to help with the maintenance of the organisation or upgrading of buildings.

• Get out your knitting or crocheting needles:

If you are not able to visit an organisation, you can crochet or knit squares to help make a blanket, scarves or children’s jerseys. Many hospitals need baby clothes, while organisations which help the needy will appreciate something they can hand out to fight the winter chill. Even old-age homes or organisations that assist the elderly will be glad for knee blankets and gloves.

Once you have chosen a cause, do research on them, especially if they are not well known, to ensure that your donations will be well spent.

READ: Do some research before you donate to a cause

This is the end goal of Mandela Day – to not just give once, but to reach out to those in need every day.

Remember to share your Mandela Day activities with Corridor Gazette by sending us messages on our Facebook page, dropping by our offices in Malalane or sending an email to editor@corridorgazette.co.za.