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Get involved on Mandela Day!

Mandela day which which marks Madiba’s contribution to freedom is here! To reflect the 67 years that Nelson Mandela spent fighting the anti-apartheid movement, Mandela Day is about dedicating 67 minutes of your time to help others. Want to join in the movement but aren’t sure what to do? We’ve put together a list of various drives that will be happening tomorrow all over the country, here’s how to get involved: 

 

In Joburg:

Flow Communications are running a Mandela Blood Drive– why not make the world of a difference by spending your lunch break donating blood? They’re working with the South African National Blood Service and need your blood to keep our nation alive. Find out if you’re eligible to donate at sanbs.org.za and if you are, contact [email protected] to get more information about where and when you can donate.

 

Dermalogica’s FITE(Financial Independence Through Entrepreneurship) campaign allows you to use Mandela Day to empower female entrepeneurs. The Dermalogica FITE team will be lining Rivonia Road heading into Sandton, encouraging you to send your wish for these women via SMS. For every wish received, they’ll donate $1 to a female entrepeneur. SMS ‘WISH’ to 33496 (SMS costs R1.50) and help fund microloans for women in over 60 countries around the world. The great part is – other than empowering women – Sandton’s Rock ’n Roll McDonalds will be warming up wishers with a free coffee. For more info, call 011 268 0018 or email [email protected].

 

At 8:45 this morning Gareth Cliff and 5FM will be Holding Hands for Madiba for 67 seconds at the SABC with a performance by the Soweto Gospel Choir. Head down to the SABC, get some of your friends together, hold hands and take to social media to show your support with the hashtag #HandsAcrossSA. Later, they will be donating 67 minutes of their time in volunteer work at Holy Cross Day Care and Thyolweni Orphanage on Vilakazi Street in Soweto. They’ll need donations of blankets, heaters and sand for the sand pits as well as volunteers to cook lunch and play soccer with the children. Email [email protected] for more info!

 

In Cape Town:

FoodBank is a great institution that feeds millions of people each year, but due to a lack of finances they’ve recently been forced to move premises and are now in rundown buildings that urgently need renovation. You can help them by donating your skills, 67 minutes or assisting financially to enable them to buy the necessary material. For a full wish list and to find out how you can help, email [email protected]. Can’t help them on the day? Get in contact and promise 67 minutes of your time this weekend.

 

In Durban:

The Home Centre is planting 67 trees in 67 minutes on Durban’s Umgeni Road. The aim is to raise environmental awareness and make Durban a greener, more beautiful place to live. So grab your gardening gloves and go lend a hand. For more information, visit homecentreshopping.co.za or email [email protected].

 

Nationwide:

The Heartfelt Project was set up by long-time friends, Julie Hadley, 35 and Martha Letsoalo, 64 (our former GLAMOUR Women of the Year) to help provide hope and a source of income for the women of the small Makapanstad community in the North West Province. Not only are the stunning curious, brooches, wedding favours and ornaments they create beautifully handmade and utterly covetable, but by buying their lovingly made produce, you’ll be supporting and empowering this community of women, providing hope and a better future. Email [email protected] to receive an e-catalogue and spend your 67 minutes browsing and placing your order!

 

Every year Irené Pieters dedicates her time to collecting, sorting and distributing shoeboxes filled with gifts for children in impoverished areas. She founded the Kidz2Kidz Santa Shoebox with friend, Dee Boehner, and their target this year is to collect a whopping 100 000 gift-filled boxes to bring warmth, joy and Santa into the lives of thousands of children this Christmas – many of whom have never received a present before. Spend your Madiba Day making a child (or two!) happy by logging onto santashoebox.co.za, filling out the easy-to-navigate form and pledging a shoebox of gifts to someone this year. Collections happen up until the end of October, it’s easy to do and there’s a gift guide and step-by-step plan through the process all online. Easy!

 

 

 

Compiled by Zethu Gqola

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