Walking the talk to add to a legacy

CELEBRATING Nelson Mandela’s legacy, the country was abuzz with activities as South Africans opened their hearts and dedicated 67 minutes of their time to honour the global icon.

Yesterday Canal Walk and the LEAP Maths School recreated the Mandela Day logo with a food tin mosaic at the Canal Walk Shopping Centre food court.

Various sponsors and volunteers pitched up at the event to pack out 20 400 food tins donated by the Rhodes Food Group. The mosaic is in the shape of the Nelson Mandela Day logo and will span 8m x 16m and use 6 700kg worth of food cans.

At the end of the construction, the mosaic will be dismantled and all the food cans distributed to those in need.

Canal Walk spokesperson Loren George said the centre was celebrating the legacy of Mandela by participating in the initiative with the LEAP Maths School.

“At the end of the day the mosaic will be a beautiful masterpiece and the project lasts the entire day. At the end of the construction, everybody sings the national anthem,” George said.

The Canal Walk Shopping Centre received the International Council of Shopping Centres (ICSC) Foundation European Community Support Award for the mosaic campaign last year.

“The prestigious award was announced at the Solal ceremony held in Vienna, Austria, during June. The award was accompanied by a donation of $5 000 donation for the LEAP Science and Maths Schools, who are the beneficiary of the campaign,” said George.

LEAP Maths School spokesperson Lungiswa Gwaai said they wanted to do something different to celebrate Mandela’s legacy.

“We wanted to do something that would benefit previously disadvantaged communities. It is so good to see everybody excited and involved and making a difference,” she said.

Deputy mayor Ian Neilson, who was at the event, said: “Being a part of this event means you’re doing something in your own time, ensuring that someone out there benefits from what you do. I’m really happy to be here.”