South Africa: Celebrating Mandela Day in the City of Johannesburg

12 July 2011

In honour of this year’s Mandela Day on 18 July, the City of Joburg has partnered with Love-life, Campaign for Girls, Cheese-kids and the Nelson Mandela Foundation to volunteer their services to orphanage homes, old age homes, early childhood development centres and shelters.

Starting on 15 July at the Orange Farm Multi Purpose Centre from nine in the morning. One hundred children between the ages of 6 to eighteen years from Sakhisizwe, Thalithakum, TshepoYaka and Home of Hope will be spoilt like never before.

They will each receive a goodie bag containing a story book, winter hat and scarf, fleece blanket, cap, ball, R100 Pick and Pay voucher, R 100 PEP voucher, a fruit basket as well as a helicopter ride. All these children were identified by social workers through the city’s list of NGO’s.

In celebrating the Mandela Day slogan” Take action. Inspire Change. Make Everyday a Mandela Day” Other citywide activities will take place regionally from the 16 July leading to the Mandela Day on Monday.

Various activities will include:

· Region E: Donating blankets and school uniforms to vulnerable children. Cleaning and cooking for senior citizens at Ithlokomeleng home.

· Region G: Donating of school uniforms, City Parks planting two trees: one a Tree of Knowledge and the other a Tree of Freedom

· Region B: Donating of food parcels and blankets at three Orphanage homes in Slovopark (Crosby). Donating of non-perishable food, clothes and toys at Phuthaditshaba place of destitute people in Vrededorp.

· Region A: Feeding, bathing, and giving medicines to bedridden patients in Glen Austin hospice (Tshwaranang). Donating floor mattresses and toys. Painting at Gummi Bears and Shiloh Pre-school

· Region D: Cleaning and feeding of babies. Clothing will also be distributed to babies at Walter Sisulu place of Safety in Noordgesig house for abandoned children.

· Region F: Cooking, cleaning at orphanage home and homework assistance at Fundisizwe Orphanage in Jeppestown

· Donating of Television sets at child headed households. Spending time with children at Thando Lerato Elssen School for children with disabilities

The City of Johannesburg would like to encourage residents to volunteer 67 minutes to better their communities or environment in which they live.

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