How you can get involved this Mandela Day

Mandela Day today (Tuesday, July 18) is to be marked by many organisations on the North Coast with a full programme of activities.

There will be many opportunities to give back to the community and contribute 67 minutes to remembering the legacy of the New South Africa’s first president.

Here is what the following local organisations will be doing:

• Join the Tongaat Child and Family Welfare Society at 6.30am at either the Hambanati Clinic or Tongaat Health Centre to hand out coffee and muffins to the patients. From there they will proceed to the office to distribute blankets and hampers to 30 of our most deserving clients.

• Join Vision 153 at their Shakashead container for their 67 minutes for Mandela Day. Locals are encouraged to either donate books towards their new Children’s Library, or stop by between 10am and 11.07am or 12pm and 1.07pm and bring along a bag of veggies, a peeler, knife and chopping board and help prepare and bag fresh veggies to supply their soup kitchen. Directions: Situated on the soccer pitch directly behind KwaMama Center, Shakashead. SMS 082 550 2182 for further assistance if required.

• LIV Village has not one, but two exciting events planned for Mandela Day. Join them for 67 minutes with your company, or join them on Saturday at 8am and dance for 67 minutes with Secret Sunrise and Château Gâteaux. If you do not have 67 minutes free to give, the village has many needs you can donate towards: 67 pencils – Their grade 1 class will learn to practice writing for 1 year, 67 A4 School exercise book – Their grade 4 class will have a book per subject, 67 Sets of nail clippers – Every home will be able to teach our children personal grooming, 67 Pairs of socks – Their running club will have a pair of clean socks every time they break records and 67 Mops and Brooms – Every house will be kept spick and span.

• Paint a classroom for Nelson Mandela Day at Aldinville Primary School. The cost of R4­­­ 800 for a team of eight and this includes all paint, brushes, hard hats, t-shirts, water and refreshments. If you would like to take part email info@projectbuild.org.za or call 031 307 5322.

• In honour of Mandela Day on Tuesday, July 18, The North Coast Courier Orphan Fund is encouraging local businesses to take part in The Courier‘s Mandela Day feature. By donating R300 or more to the Orphan Fund, you will be added to our special Mandela Day themed feature in The North Coast Courier newspaper, which will include your company logo and/or a photo of your team or Mandela Day activity. Our aim is to let no vulnerable child go hungry on the Dolphin Coast, as your R300 donation feeds one person for as long as a month and a half. The cut-off date is next Wednesday, July 26 and the feature will be published in our August 2 edition.

With 10 local NGO’s under our wing, each and every donation helps. Local NGOs we support include: St Phillip, St Vincent De Paul, All Souls Church, Enduduzweni Care Centre, Nkobongo Resource Centre, Safe Haven for Children & Elders, Simphiwe Mapumula, Sinikithemba Organisation, Smile With Us, Summer Hill House, Usizo KwaDukuza and Vision 153.

Email orphanfund@northcoastcourier.co.za or call 032-9460276 and speak to June.

• 67 minutes to meet, mingle and master at the Ilembe Chamber. Visit the Ilembe Chamber today from 10am to 11.07am for a free consult by experienced professionals in the fields of marketing and design; PR and media; social media and digital platforms; tax and accounting; legal matters; banking and financial services and investment and asset management. To book a consult email reception@ilembechamber.co.za

• If you are thinking of having your eyes tested or need new spectacles, you can give back this Mandela Day. Offer the gift of sight to an underprivileged person. By visiting Mellins i-Style in the Ballito Junction Mall and Gateway Mall during July for your eye test and spectacles, you can nominate a needy person for a free visual examination and spectacles if it’s required. Visit www.mellins.co.za for more information or to book an appointment.

• WESSA Tourism Blue Flag Beach Stewards will be donating blankets, pots and electric kettles on Mandela day to House of Hope shelter for victims of abuse in Mandeni at 12pm. Dokodweni Beach Stewards are fundraising for this initiative and donations from the public can be dropped off at the beach. If you would like to get involved call 076 822 3949 or email tbf4dokodweni@gmail.com.

 15 Other Ways To Celebrate Mandela Day (by the The Nelson Mandela Foundation)

1. Donation of blood.
2. Organise a fun outing for children in an HIV/Aids programme.
3. Put together stationery packs (pens, stickers, coloured paper, scissors, etc.) for teachers at an under-resourced school.
4. Offer to mow the lawn and fix up the garden at a nursing home or hospice
5. Hold a teddy bear or book drive for a children’s home
6. Teach someone how to use a computer and the Internet
7. Make sandwiches to give to people living on the street.
8. Offer to fix things at a local school or organisation (paint, broken windows, etc).
9. Make ‘care kits’ (including a comb, toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, face cloth, etc) for patients at a nearby government hospital.
10. Throw a tea party for the children and caregivers at a children’s home.
11. Tutor someone who needs help learning your mother tongue.
12. Donate your old computer to an under-resourced school.
13. Tutor pupils from under-resourced schools.
14. Donate books to your local library.
15. Offer to attend a high school class to talk to students about your career.

>> Expect to find the latest trends in Health, Wellness and Beauty in Ballito.

>> Meet the top players in the North Coast property industry. See our Property People feature.

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