What you can do for Mandela Day

Giving 67 minutes of your time to serve your community in honour of Nelson Mandela may be easier than you think.

You do not even have to think on your own of something to do. The website www.mandeladay.com and Virgin Unite offer 67 ideas on how you can serve your community for Mandela Day on Thursday 18 July.

The many options vary in terms of difficulty. One can learn first aid, “make ‘I Care’ kits with combs, toothbrushes, toothpaste, shampoo, etc for the homeless” or even “bake a birthday cake for a disadvantaged child”. Serving food at a soup kitchen, fixing potholes and picking up litter are also options.

Some of the easiest ways one can “change the world” is to smile at people and make new friends. All of these actions, according to the respective websites, make a difference.

The Mandela Day campaign started after Nelson Mandela’s 90th birthday in 2008 and involves people volunteering 67 minutes of their time in honour of the 67 years he gave for a better country.

Serving the community in these ways or assisting a local charity are encouraged by www.mandeladay.com.

The website also enables users to join already organised group activities that uplift the community, or to start their own activities. One can document his or her community service on the website.

Find useful ideas on www.mandeladay.com or the Virgin Unite’s list of ideas on www.virgin.com/people-and-planet/blog/67-ideas-on-how-to-help-on-mandela-day.

Local charities and welfare organisations can be contacted through looklocal at https://www.looklocal.co.za/looklocal/content/en/roodepoort/roodepoort-directory?category_id=179.