Mandela Day – how will you spend your 67 minutes?
“Mr Mandela has spent 67 years making the world a better place. We’re asking you for 67 minutes.”
On Mandela Day, the 18th July, people all around the world are encouraged to spend at least 67 minutes doing something positive for their communities. This is in honour of the 67 years that the late Madiba spent fighting for social justice and a free, democratic country.
On 27th June 2008, during his 90th birthday celebrations in London’s Hyde Park, Mandela addressed leaders of all nations to help change the world for the better.
“It is time for new hands to lift the burdens. It is in your hands now”
“[I would be] honoured if such a day can serve to bring together people around the world to fight poverty and promote peace and reconciliation.” – Nelson Mandela, 2008
The United Nations officially declared 18 July as Nelson Mandela International Day in 2009, recognising Madiba’s values and dedication to the service of humanity and his contribution to the promotion of a culture of peace throughout the world.
Celebrated each year on his birthday, Mandela Day aims to inspire good deeds all over the globe and encourage individuals, communities, governments, EVERYBODY, to make a small difference and help create a ripple effect of kindness and peace, changing the world, little by little.
If you would like to get involved this Mandela Day but aren’t sure how or what to do, we have come up with some ideas, all of them being something you can do as an individual or as part of a team.
“There is nothing more important in life than giving.”
Donate to the homeless
You could donate clothes, blankets or even organise care packages with toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap etc. Or you could get together with everybody from your office and make sandwiches to hand out to the homeless.
Serve food at a Soup Kitchen
Get involved and volunteer your time at a local Soup Kitchen, serving food to those needing a warm meal.
Give blood or become an organ donor
This may not seem like an obvious thing to do or way to get involved but wouldn’t it be quite something to have the knowledge that you had helped save somebody’s life?
Donate to the local Animal Sanctuary
You could volunteer your time or donate items such as food and/or blankets for the animals at the local sanctuaries.
Donate money
There are numerous charities needing financial support, why not donate to your favourite one?
Organise a fundraising event
This could be for your favourite charity and would be a wonderful idea, raising funds and having a great event at the same time!
Clean up your community
You could do this alone or with a team – why not do a street or a beach clean up?
Plant something!
Plant a vegetable garden for a neighbour or a tree where the whole community can enjoy it.
Take part in a sponsored activity
Gather your friends together and participate in a sponsored walk, swim or bike ride.
Carry out general maintenance at a local school
You could help by painting or fixing broken windows, cleaning the area etc.
Build a playground
Get together with some workmates and build a playground for an underprivileged school.
Mow the grass
You could do this for a neighbour, a friend, anybody you think might need the help.
Visit an orphanage
Spend some time with the children, read to them, play with them, simply be there with them.
Volunteer on a hotline
Be that voice at the end of the phone that could help somebody in a desperate situation.
Get involved at your local church
There are numerous ways to help within the church. Why not volunteer your time on a youth evening or spend time with the elderly there?
Babysit/Dog Walk
If you know of some single parents out there, why not offer to babysit for them sometime? Or if somebody you know is going away, why not walk their dogs for them while they’re gone?
Donate books
Giving your unwanted books to a library or other worthy cause is a wonderful gesture. If you have children’s books to give away, just think of the whole new world you would be opening up for another child.
Donate magazines
There are plenty of places that would appreciate old magazines – retirement homes, schools, doctors and dentists waiting rooms, the list is endless.
Visit a retirement home
Read to the aged or even organise a tea party or dance for them!
Teach somebody
Do you know somebody who is struggling to learn your language? Then why not offer to help them for free? Or perhaps an older friend would like to know more about computers and the Internet… teach them! Or volunteer your time and help teach young children to read.
Donate a computer/other items
Have you recently upgraded and have an old computer that you could donate to a school? Or donate old cellphones, some organizations need just the basic of items, they don’t have to be the latest Smartphones.
Help somebody cross the street
It’s a simple gesture but one which says “I care”. Why not help somebody across the street? Or make a point of helping somebody with heavy bags? It all matters.
Knit something
Knit a blanket, gloves or a hat for a friend in need. This is a wonderful gift, especially in the winter months.
Utilize your skills
If you have the time to volunteer, why not use your skills to help a charity run more efficiently?
Bake some treats
Why not bake some cookies or muffins and give them to somebody you want to thank?
Assist the elderly
There are numerous ways in which you could help the aged. You could rake leaves or wash windows for them, pick up groceries or medicine or simply accompany them on a walk.
Smile…
At everybody you see. You never know, your smile might just give somebody the strength to go on…
Local events
If you would like to get involved in one of the local events that are happening in and around East London for Mandela Day, you can choose from and participate in a number of them, whichever you feel suits you best. Please check under our events and entertainment section on our website for further information and details on organized events.
However you decide to spend your 67 minutes this year, know that you are making a difference in the world. Don’t think for one minute that what you are doing is not enough because it is, it’s huge. Your actions count and that means we are one step closer to changing the world. So let’s not stop at one day of the year, let’s make every day a Mandela Day.