To celebrate Nelson Mandela Day and remember his legacy, members of FullFlame Life Church gathered to make a meaningful difference in their community by making sandwiches and donating them to children at Swartkop Valley Primary School.

The team spent Thursday night, July 24, preparing the sandwiches with different spreads.

According to Thato Phiri, the church’s community outreach co-ordinator, the initiative was a practical way to show love and kindness to the community.

“Mandela Day is all about making a difference through simple, meaningful acts of kindness,” Phiri said. “As a church, we are called to serve our communities with compassion and humility. Preparing and sharing sandwiches was a way to meet a real need and honour Madiba’s legacy of giving.”

He also added that about 80 volunteers of all ages were involved in the operation, which ran smoothly thanks to donations from the congregation.

Ruimsig Academy also donated sandwiches to the school. Learners from both Alma Mater International School and Ruimsig Academy went with the church team to drop off the sandwiches. The team took the sandwiches to the school on Friday, and before the learners received the sandwiches, the team had a moment to teach them about God at the assembly point. A few drama plays teaching about Jesus were played, and the learners actively participated by dancing to the songs and answering questions asked.

After that, the learners headed to a station where the church team eagerly waited for them with smiles. The learners were excited to receive the sandwiches, and the volunteers were happy to serve them. The volunteers worked together to assemble the sandwiches, and others handled the distribution and spent time interacting with learners and teachers.

“We hoped to remind the learners and the wider community that they are seen, loved, and valued. Small acts of kindness, when done with love, carry a powerful message of hope and unity. We also used the opportunity to pray for the children and teachers at the school and minister the gospel.”

While Mandela Day catalysed this initiative, the church has no intention of stopping there.

“Mandela Day may be once a year, but our mission to serve continues every day,” Phiri said. The church is already planning future outreach initiatives, including community clean-up campaigns and school partnerships.

“Our goal is to be a consistent presence of care and support in the community. We believe that by serving others, we can make a positive impact and bring hope and unity to our community,” he concluded.