In the spirit of ubuntu, hundreds of South Africans gathered at the Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit on July 18 to turn compassion into action during the Ladles of Love Mandela Day event.

Under the banner: It’s in Your Hands, corporate teams and individuals rolled up their sleeves to support children in need at flagship Mandela Day events, hosted by the organisation, at both Kyalami and DHL Stadium in Cape Town.

Read more: New Dawn Senior Citizen enjoy breakfast on Mandela Day

Ladles of Love is a non-profit organisation that grew exponentially during the Covid-19 pandemic. Since March 2020, it has provided over 48 million meals to people in need. Today, the organisation focuses on nurturing, nourishing, and growing over 7 500 children at preschools in underserved communities. Their: Nourish our Children programme supports principals by uplifting and training teachers on good nutrition.

@caxtonjoburgnorth Ladles of Love Mandela Day programme director Yolanda Jones explains the purpose of the Ladles of Love Mandela Day event hosted at Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit on July 18, 2025. #Mandeladay #kyalamigrandprixcircuit ♬ original sound – Caxton Joburg North

Yolanda Jones, the organisation’s programme director, emphasised that volunteering on Mandela Day fortifies community bonds, promotes workplace wellness, and fosters a culture of ubuntu that can elevate our nation. “We are making things for children in our early childhood development (ECD) centres. We are making books and posters, making nutrition boxes, delicious sandwiches, and also buckets of hope.

@caxtonjoburgnorth Jodi Law, brand manager for Wimpy South Africa, says they partnered with Ladles of Love as the organisation aligns with their goal to provide South African children with multilingual, multicultural education throughout South Africa. #Mandeladay #67minutes ♬ original sound – Caxton Joburg North

“There are so many opportunities for people to get involved and to come and make things for children in our safe schools. We support just over 7 000 children across three provinces, Gauteng, Western Cape, and the Northern Cape. So, this support today is about getting resources to the ECD centres and making sure that children get the proper nutrition.”

Attendees dedicated their 67 minutes purchasing tickets to participate in one of four unique activation zones: Make, create, craft, or grow. “People are paying R250 to come out here to volunteer. They get to do an activation with us for two hours, but that R250 supports a child for an entire month, with two nutritious meals a day.”

Sintie van Schalkwyk, from Bounty Food and Care, affirmed that Mandela Day is a vital opportunity to give back to the community, while celebrating Mandela’s enduring legacy.

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