International Nelson Mandela Day – 18 July 2011

Nelson Mandela, humanitarian hero, beloved grandfather of the Rainbow Nation and its children, is turning 93 on 18 July 2011.

In the spirit of Nelson Mandela, everyone in South Africa and the world is asked to set aside 67 minutes on 18 July – Nelson Mandela’s birthday – to making their community a better place. For the first time, in 2011, an entire week is being set aside to create ‘Mandela Moments’. What will you be doing?

South Africa’s Arts and Culture Minister Paul Mashatile has announced that from 11 to 18 July, everyone in South Africa, from parliamentarian to private citizen, is being called upon to uphold Madiba’s principles and volunteer 67 minutes to projects that will help uplift the lives of others.

Even before the week has started, the first reports of people’s projects started to appear in the news. In Soweto, a young boy chose to share his birthday with local children from a nearby orphanage.

The 67 minutes represent the number of years Nelson Mandela selflessly gave in service to his country.

Any group planning a Nelson Mandela Day activity is welcome to post it on the website www.forgood.co.za

People are being encouraged to donate time, money or resources to deserving causes.

Don’t know what to do? Here are a few things to choose from that will make your 67 minutes count:

• Go shopping for children’s toys, games, books, clothing, or go through your cupboards at home. Put one or two bags together and drop it off at a Children’s Home.
• Volunteer to serve food to homeless children. Alternatively, assist with starting a school vegetable garden at a needy school.
• Donate books to libraries
• Mentor young people
• Clean and green public spaces
• Assist work-seekers with job interview skills
• Clean a wall of graffiti
• Take a meal to a security guard
• Take flowers to a nurse
• Take home-baked goodies to a police station
• Write an encouraging letter to someone who does a lot for a little recognition
• Play an instrument or sing at an old age home
• Donate blood
• Signup at www.cheesekids.org.za or donate R 5 to their cause by sms’ing cheesekids to 37585
• Made a donation to the Nelson Mandela Foundation (www.nelsonmandela.org.za)
• Volunteer at a children’s charity and paint a wall to brighten up their day.

Make every day a Mandela Day.

Tell us what you’re going to be doing in your 67 minutes by leaving a comment on the blog.