Mandela Day more than ‘signing cheques’
MANDELA Day is not about giving financial donations – it is about empathy and showing kindness to humanity, according to Nkosi Mandla Mandela, the grandson of late president Nelson Mandela.
Mandela believes wealthy people can do more for the poor than “simply signing cheques”.
He was speaking at a Mandela Day event at Hemingways Mall on Saturday.
Rise Against Hunger gathered the troops and asked volunteers to pack food to donate to the less fortunate.
“Mandela Day and Mandela Month are not just about cash donations. There is a tendency of people with means to simply want to sign cheques and not get involved with the people. Doing that loses the fibre and morality of what my grandfather stood for.
“The poor and the less privileged are not a charity case. Celebrating my grandfather and his legacy is about humanity,” he said.
He urged ordinary citizens to help others and not feel that they needed money to do so.
“We call on communities to do what they can and make every day a Mandela Day. Find something you can do in your family or community, wherever you are.”
He added Rise Against Hunger was an initiative in line with the Madiba’s values and legacy.
“As a leader of the struggle against the oppressive apartheid regime, his [Madiba’s] biggest sacrifice was his family and not being able to raise his own children. When he was released from prison, he tried to overcompensate with his grandchildren for the time he missed.
“This initiative is great because it focuses on childhood development stages. Some of the food that is packed today will be distributed on Sunday [yesterday] to Nolusapho Pre-School in Mvezo,” he added.
On Saturday, Hemingways Mall was buzzing with volunteers from several organisations, including the Daily Dispatch, packing food parcels.
Rise Against Hunger president and CEO Rod Brooks said they wanted to pack 100 000 meals at the weekend.
“As we celebrate Mandela Month we would like to pack three million meals this month. This time of the year is a great time of promoting perfect partnerships of working together to help others,” Brooks said.
Hemingways Mall marketing manager Estee Roos said they were pleased with the turnout and felt honoured that Rise Against Hunger partnered with them.
“We are incredibly privileged to host Rise Against Hunger, not just because it is Mandela Month, but also because this is Rise Against Hunger’s first shop front stop.”
The parcels include soup mix, soya, rice and vitamins. Each can feed 10 children. —