{"id":14947,"date":"2017-07-16T15:45:31","date_gmt":"2017-07-16T13:45:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/responsive.jozikids.co.za\/zaparents\/?p=14947"},"modified":"2022-08-11T12:12:49","modified_gmt":"2022-08-11T10:12:49","slug":"making-mandela-day-last","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.jozikids.co.za\/blog\/lifestyle\/childrens-rights\/making-mandela-day-last\/","title":{"rendered":"Making Mandela Day last"},"content":{"rendered":"

Mandela Day is a day to honour the legacy of Nelson Mandela, South Africa’s former President, and his values, through volunteering and community service. (Wikipedia)\u00a0 And South Africans have over the past few years used the opportunity to its fullest.\u00a0\u00a0 Personalities, schools, NPO\u2019s and corporates are usually out in full force doing their bit every 18th<\/sup> July.<\/p>\n

So what happens after those 67 minutes or after that day?\u00a0 This reminds me a lot of the month of Ramadaan, which I and millions of Muslims around the world observe every year.\u00a0 This month isn\u2019t only about fasting and disciplining ourselves but a big part of it is showing compassion for others and doing more charitable acts throughout the month.\u00a0 This isn\u2019t to say we aren\u2019t meant to do them every other month but Ramadaan brings more blessings for those who do good.\u00a0 And so each year my family and I pack hampers of food items for disadvantaged people and hand them out one Sunday of the month.<\/p>\n

And each year I have the same thoughts.\u00a0 It\u2019s great that we can do this for people who are in dire need of basic food necessities but how long does that actually last?\u00a0 Maybe 2 or 3 weeks at most.\u00a0 Perhaps we need to look at more sustainable things to do for people such as solar power on small scales, vegetable gardens, libraries and start-ups of little businesses for women.\u00a0 I guess some of the kids also don\u2019t receive much help academically so reading with them could help too.<\/p>\n

And I say \u201cI guess\u201d<\/em> because in all these years I haven\u2019t made any effort to engage with any of the people that receive the hampers.\u00a0 There\u2019s no real interaction, we meet them, standing in lines waiting for their hand-outs.\u00a0 We hand over, shake hands and smile and that\u2019s usually the end of it, moving on to the next township.\u00a0 Our kids are with us so that they can learn about the spirit of giving \u2013 and that would be all they learn.\u00a0 (Side note:\u00a0 we all arrive in our shiny cars, kicking up dust in a huff and puff and then disappear back to our cosy suburban lives)<\/p>\n

I decided this year that I would continue to meet with some of the ladies on a monthly basis if possible so that we can get to know each other.\u00a0 There are many friends of mine that I\u2019ve now spoken to that would love to join in.\u00a0 And a lot of us have various skills such as teaching, gardening (unless you want to kill the plants, I\u2019d suggest not getting me involved with this), baking and cleaning.\u00a0 Even if it meant us going in and helping to clean some of the community centres we meet at, giving a fresh paint and stocking up on basics, it\u2019s a start.\u00a0 And that\u2019s hopefully where great things can begin.<\/p>\n

So let\u2019s make this Mandela Day the start of ongoing initiatives that are sustainable, that render good friendships between unlikely friends and that make a lasting difference \u2013 because then we can truly feel the spirit of Mandela and his great actions.<\/p>\n

Click here<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>to find a list of children\u2019s charities that need your help in Gauteng,<\/p>\n

This article was originally written for Jozikids by Fatima Kazee in 2017.<\/em><\/p>\n

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