My families response to Mandela’s call to spend 67 minutes helping others on his birthday was to join a friend who invited us to go with them to Quakazani Primary School in Orange Farm. We went laden with children’s books for the library, games, hot chocolate and sandwiches.
We were shocked to find a library containing mainly tattered old text books and empty shelves. Our books barely filled one of the shelves.
Then we unpacked a collection of very simple fun games which we spent the morning playing.
.Our kids taught other children how to play UNO, the card game we had brought.
We played snakes & ladders, building towers with cards, 4 in a row. There was storytelling, colouring in, some netball and soccer while some of the adults started helping to document the books we had brought for the library.
It was a wonderful way of bringing these children from such different worlds together to share and play. Thank you Madiba and happy birthday.
What did you do with your children on Mandela day? We would love to hear your stories.
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2 Responses
That is awesome. What a wonderful way to spend the day!
My daughter and our spent our 67 minutes at Princess Alice Adoption Home. We arrived at 3pm laden with goodies the home had requested that they were in need of: nappies, shampoo, wet wipes, food, etc. (I had requested friends and family to donate items if they were not able to do their 67 minutes which in fact they then did indirectly). We held and hugged the babies, gave them bottles and fed them. It was a fantastic experience and we intend to volunteer there on a regular basis.
Wow – what a great way to spend your day, and to set such a great example for your kids. It’s so heartwarming to see needy people benefit from others’ kindness (yet so tragic to see how many people are in need).
We spent some of the day driving through Joburg and handing out food parcels. When my baby is older, I hope to do more interactive charity initiatives.