Rise for hunger creates unity this #MandelaDay
The initiative, held at Sun Arena’s Time Square, saw hundreds of people join hands to package food for underprivileged children.
People from various organisations united to do their part for underprivileged children at Sun Arena’s Time Square in Menlyn on Thursday.
Teams of volunteers rolled up their sleeves to pack food parcels with the goal to pack 418 000 meals to feed over 59 000 preschool children for a year.
The food-packing drive was part of a nationwide effort between Sun International and Rise Against Hunger to mark International Mandela Day.
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Observing the day was Jacob Motlou, who said the initiative was a reflection of how people of different racial groups can be united in one objective.
“This just shows that working together, in our diversity, we can achieve more,” he said.
Under the theme “This is possible”, people from different cultures, professions and racial groups including learners from the Mamelodi Pre-Vocational School volunteered their time to pack food items.
Principal Seemole Matlala said they were trying to teach the learners about the importance of giving back.
“Mandela left a legacy worth learning from and he touched many.
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“We are hoping our learners can mirror that in their daily lives.”
A learner at the school, Theo Mponane, said the day allowed him to celebrate a liberation hero whose fight for freedom enabled him to get a free education and be proudly black without fear of intimidation.
“Unlike the days of apartheid, we can now freely walk in the streets and openly express ourselves,” he said.
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Sun International’s group social economic development specialist, Heidi Edson, said the drive was aimed at inspiring people to embrace the values that Mandela shared so that the world can be changed for the better.
‘We feel privileged to be part of this meaningful Mandela Day initiative, which has a tremendous and far-reaching impact across underprivileged communities.”
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