10 Mandela Day 2022 Events in Cape Town
Mandela Day is just around the corner, taking place next Monday, 18 July. As our country emerges from the ravages of the coronavirus pandemic, community service has never been so important. Several organisations are hosting fun and creative Mandela Day 2022 events in Cape Town so that we can all do our 67 minutes.
Nelson Mandela International Day, while not a public holiday, is an official UN commemorative day. The date commemorates Nelson Mandela’s birthday in 1918. People around the world are urged to spend 67 minutes in community service, emulating the 67 years that Mandela dedicated to the Struggle in South Africa.
This year’s official theme is “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.” While the official focus is on food security, this is not the only pressing issue in South Africa and various organisations are calling for volunteers and donations in Cape Town.
How Healthcare Heroes Can Volunteer for Mandela Day 2022
As we try to emerge from the coronavirus pandemic, there’s never been a better time to shore up the public healthcare system. Both Groote Schuur and Valkenberg are public hospitals that offer much-need healthcare, yet need so much more support. And what better day than Mandela Day to make an impact?
Fundraise for the Iconic Groote Schuur Hospital
The Groote Schuur Hospital Trust is calling on individuals and groups to design and run fundraisers in support of the Cape Town hospital. The trust is the hospital’s fundraising arm, established with the aim “to identify the most pressing needs that do not fall within the allocated yearly operational budget of the Hospital and enable pioneering world-class healthcare for all.”
“We would like to harness our collective power this Mandela Day to support Groote Schuur Hospital,” says fundraising administrator Maymoonah Abrahams. “There’s a quote from Nelson Mandela that states, ‘health is not a question of income; it is a fundamental human right.’”
In this spirit, the trust is calling on people to get creative and start fundraising initiatives for the hospital. The fundraisers are hosted on the GivenGain platform from where it is easy to share news of your initiative with friends and family.
Abrahams points out that Groote Schuur Hospital has delivered not only the world’s first heart transplant but “12 firsts throughout the world, 5 throughout Africa and 18 in South Africa.”
Just last October, the hospital became the first public African facility to acquire a Da Vinci X-i surgical robot. The state-of-the-art robot was bought with the hopes of alleviating the backlog of surgeries.
“We need to continue supporting this iconic Hospital and ensure the provision of pioneering world-class health,” says Abrahams.
- Location: GivenGain
- Further information and assistance: contact Maymoonah Abrahams at maymoonah.abrahams@gshtrust.co.za or call 084 3254 893
Clear Your Cupboards for the Friends of Valkenburg Trust
The Friends of Valkenberg Trust is appealing for donations of clothing, bric-a-brac and other preloved items. These will be sold at the Friendly Shop. The shop, which is based at Valkenberg Hospital, allows patients to take a break from the ward, make new friends and learn money management skills.
“We do not believe in the ‘hat in hand’ approach, so to speak,” says director Soraya Solomon. “We are keen to become less reliant on donor funding by creating sustainable income for the Friends of Valkenberg Trust in order to reach more people with mental health challenges.”
Donations can be dropped off at the shop at Valkenberg Hospital. For donations of furniture, pick-up can be arranged.
- Location: Valkenberg Hospital, Observatory
- Time: 8 am till 2pm, Monday to Friday
Mandela Day 2022 Events in Cape Town for Animal Lovers
Animal welfare continues to be a pressing concern around Cape Town. Mandela himself was a patron of the National Council of SPCAs. For anyone else who shares his regard for animals, here are some Mandela Day 2022 events in Cape Town.
Join a Day of Volunteering at the SPCA
The Cape of Good Hope SPCA is hosting a day of volunteering and donation drives at their headquarters in Grassy Park.
“Tata Madiba was all about bringing the nation together. On this Mandela Day, we also want to bring the community together to make a difference in the lives of animals,” said Chief Inspector Jaco Pieterse.
According to Pieterse, the main event which people have signed up for is the repainting of dog kennels. Volunteers are asked to bring their own paint and brushes.
Alternatively, the SPCA is asking for donations of pet food (all brands welcome), grass and hay. Financial donations in the token of R67, R670 or any amount are also welcome. These will go towards funding the mobile clinics in disadvantaged communities.
The Cape of Good Hope SPCA works to “prevent cruelty and promote the welfare of all animals”, with operations covering the Cape Town metro.
“Animals and people walk hand in hand as the one relies on the other. It is therefore vitally important that we take good care of our animal friends,” added Pieterse.
- Location: Cape of Good Hope SPCA, c/o 1st Avenue & 1st Road, Grassy Park
- Time: 9am till 4pm on 18 July
- Bring: paint and paintbrushes
- RSVP: 13 July via Jotform
Take Part in a Fundraising Zumba Class
Zumba Claremont is having a dance party in honour of Mandela Day this year. The class is a fundraiser to benefit Lamberts and Elands Animal Protection Services (LEAPS). LEAPS is a foster-based animal welfare operating on the West Coast.
- Location: Claremont Civic Centre Hall
- Time: 6:15pm on 18 July 2022
- Cost: R50 (plus optional pet food donations)
Support Children This Mandela Day in Cape Town
Nelson Mandela famously had a soft spot for children, so you’re in good company if you’re spending your Mandela Day 2022 in support of the country’s youth.
There can be no keener revelation of a society’s soul than the way in which it treats its children.
Nelson Mandela at the launch of the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund in Pretoria in 1995
Knit Beanies and Blankets for Masikhule ECD Centres
Masikhule, which works with Early Childhood Development (ECD) providers in the Helderberg area, is running a knitted goods drive in honour of Nelson Mandela’s public service.
“We have been training women to be ECD educators since 2005 and work with a number of ECD Centres in marginalised communities,” says Sandy Immelman, Marketing and Communications Manager at Masikhule.
“We’re calling on the public to join us to knit or crochet for 67 minutes to create blankets and beanies for the approximately 2 000 children in our Centres,” says Immelman.
The organisation hopes to return to a community knitting & crotchet marathon next year but is maintaining a socially distanced approach this year. Anyone who’d like to contribute is asked to knit or crotchet at home and then drop off their finished goods in Somerset West.
- Location: Sage & Thyme in Somerset West
- Time: drop-off 10 am till 12 noon on 18 July
- Bring: knitted creations
Paint & Clean an Educare for Mandela Day 2022
Project Playground plans to give Nokhaya Educare in Langa a facelift in honour of Mandela’s birthday. Therefore, they’re asking volunteers to clean and paint the facility on the day, and are also accepting donations of toys, cleaning products, clothing and food.
- Location: Nokhaya Educare
- Time: 2-hour slots between 11am and 5pm
- RSVP: terry@project-playground.org / 082 671 3758
Knit Squares for 67 Blankets
This month’s virtual self-care box encourages everyone to knit squares for the 67 Blankets Mandela Day drive. The completed blankets are donated to a variety of organisations, from educares to old age homes.
Squares should be 20cm x 20cm. There are drop-off points across the country, with over 20 in the Cape Town area.
- Location: your nearest drop-off point
Mandela Day 2022 Events in Cape Town for Food Security Champions
Food security is the official focus of this year’s Mandela Day. The Nelson Mandela Foundation-led effort is to plant organic food gardens to feed communities and mitigate against climate change, and to invest in food production.
Here are a few Mandela Day 2022 events in Cape Town that fit with this year’s theme.
Plant Trees at Abalimi Bezekhaya Community Gardens
Another two fantastic Mandela Day 2022 events are hosted by Abalimi Bezekhaya. The organisation will lead two tree-planting sessions in Khayelitsha and Nyanga.
The award-winning organisation works to support small-scale urban farming in the Cape Flats in an effort to combat poverty through sustainable agriculture. Abalimi Bezekhaya runs the only two garden centres in Khayelitsha and Nyanga, offering local farmers affordable access to seeds, other agricultural necessities, advice and training.
“Our focus is on tree planting at a school in Nyanga and at a community garden in Khayelitsha because this helps to protect the vegetable gardens when it gets hot and windy in the summer,” explains Abalimi Bezekhaya’s managing director, Grace Stead.
- Location: Nyanga and Khayelitsha
- Time: 10am to 1pm
- RSVP: Khotso on 071 392 4519 (Nyanga) / Akhona on 078 196 7379 (Khayelitsha)
Visit Philippi Village and Plant a Food Garden
As part of a series of events in July, Food Dialogues is hosting a Mandela Day event in Cape Town. Their event takes place in Philippi, a hub of farming activity in the Mother City. It includes time in the community garden prepping beds and planting seeds, and lunch in the Village cafe.
- Location: Philippi Village (shuttle from/to the V&A Waterfront)
- Time: 9:30am – 5:30pm (9am – 6pm via shuttle)
- Cost: R100
- RSVP: buy tickets on Webtickets
Create a Record-Breaking Food Can Mosaic
Ladles of Love will be making a mosaic from food cans to celebrate Mandela Day 2022 in Cape Town. Thie finished product will take the shape of a portrait of Nelson Mandela himself.
- Location: Cape Town International Convention Centre
- Time: one-hour slots between 9am and 4pm
- Cost: R150
- RSVP: buy tickets on Webtickets
Make Every Day a Mandela Day
Of course, many people are already involved in community initiatives and Mandela’s legacy has come under fire in recent years. Regardless, Mandela Day is a good opportunity to rededicate ourselves to community service and bolster the work of incredible organisations.
Whichever of these Mandela Day 2022 events in Cape Town you attend, you’re sure to have a great time getting creative and can take pride in supporting the country on its own long walk to freedom.
