Make every day Mandela Day

Every year, on 18 July we celebrate former President Nelson Mandela’s birthday by dedicating 67 minutes of our time to help those in need.

2019 marks 10 years since the start of Mandela Day in 2010.

Although 18 July is known as Nelson Mandela International Day, we embrace the chance to celebrate Nelson Mandela’s life for the whole of July. This gives everyone a chance to get involved in an activity they’re passionate about and to make a change in the world around them.

What can you do for Mandela month

• Contact your local HIV organisation and find out how you can help.
• Help out at your local hospice.
• Many terminally ill people have no friends or family who can visit them. Take a little time to have a chat and find out what they need.
• Donate toys to the children's ward at your local hospital.
• Tutor kids in a school subject you are good at.
• Donate your old computer to a school.
• Donate books to a school.

Find more ways that you can volunteer your services on the Nelson Mandela Day website.

No matter how small your action, Mandela Day is about changing the world for the better, just as Nelson Mandela did every day.

Are you still looking for ways to give back? Here’s 20 ways you can leave a positive legacy

• Create or join a Nelson Mandela Day event.
• Give your time and volunteer your skills at Same Foundation and help paint and restore Zimasa Primary School in Langa. 
• Lend a helping hand by sorting donations and packing bags at Bless-a-Baby.
• Help Friends of Valkenberg Trust raise R5 000 to help them promote the recovery of people with serious mental illnesses.
• Volunteer your time or donate goods to The Salvation Army (Booth Memorial).
• Help pack meals with Stop Hunger Now.
• Help Little Fighters Cancer Trust by donating listed items for Bag of Hope.
• Donate to the South African Children’s Home.
• Help Operation Smile South Africa and give a child a smile.
• Sign-up as a volunteer with Habitat for Humanity.
• Volunteer your time at Learning in Reach Children’s Home and join their Mandela Day Space to create calming corners for preschool classrooms.
• Help the Early Learning Resource Unit by collecting balls, beanbags, crayons, dolls and edu-toys for early stimulation for children ages 0-2.
• Greenpop: Organise a team tree planting day by emailing info@greenpop.org to make a booking.
• Save a life: Donate blood or register as an organ donor.
• Revamp playground venues in support of Mandela Day with the Early Learning Resource Unit. 
• Join the TEARS Animal Rescue with 50 volunteers during their Mandela weekend on the 20th and 21st of July.
• Join the Santa Shoebox Project by collecting and packing Santa Shoeboxes for 67 minutes at Canal Walk Shopping Centre.
• Drop off or donate basic toiletries to help Early Learning Resource Unit teach children and adults the importance of hygiene.
• Be part of the 67 Blankets for Mandela Day and keep thousands of less fortunate people warmer this winter.
• Trek4Mandela: The 2019 expedition aims to raise enough funds to ensure that 1 million girl children will not miss a day of school and give much-needed accessibility to sanitary towels.

Mandela Day is a reminder for all of us to take time out of our busy lives to give back to our communities and make the world a better place. Make every day a Mandela Day by celebrating Madiba’s life and legacy in a sustainable way that will bring about enduring change.