Mandela Day

Mandela Day Fundraiser 2022

This year’s Mandela Day Fundraiser was out of this world! With the donor’s love, support and generosity, 55 teenagers from James House Child & Youth Care Centre received gift packs & groceries and enjoyed a trip to the IZiko Planetarium, followed by a stroll through the Museum and lunch in the Company Gardens.

The trip to the Iziko Planetarium’s 360 degree Digital Dome (the most advanced digital planetarium on the African continent!) was so inspiring for this group of teenagers, who seldom have the opportunity to venture out of the township. They loved the immersive multi-sensory edutainment experience and as they prepare for matric and future careers, their minds have been opened to new possibilities.

James House have expressed their heartfelt gratitude to all involved and are grateful for the continuous support of donors and volunteers who make a difference to their underprivileged communities. The gift packs were also well-received with much appreciation and included a Yebo Fresh groceries combo pack, winter warmers (woollen beanie and hoodie) and hygiene Items (2 x sanitary pad packs, deodorant, body lotion, soap, bath sponge).

It was very special to once again spend time with James House and the kids in person, something we could not do for the past 2 years with the pandemic. Thank you to everyone who contributed to the success of this initiative and gifting the kids this amazing experience!

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Mandela Day and Covid-19 Fundraiser

We had an overwhelming response to this year’s Mandela Day Fundraiser to sponsor 100 kids and their families from James House Child & Youth Care Centre with a Madiba/Covid Family-Pack. Despite the Covid-19 pandemic being a difficult time for everyone, so many were willing to help another family and generously donated towards the initiative. The R45 000 target was exceeded which meant we were able to include even more items in each Family-Pack!

Each Madiba/Covid Family-Pack included a combination of groceries, winter warmers, hygiene items and educational material:

  • 1 x Groceries Combo and 1 x Fruit & Veg Combo from YeboFresh who pick, pack and deliver groceries to township areas.
  • 2 x hot water bottles, a blanket, beanie, scarf.
  • 1 x 750ml sanitizer, 2 x adult masks, 2 x kiddies masks.
  •  1 x reading book. We worked with Biblionef who individually selected a book for each child according to their age and mother tongue language. A large percentage of children in SA are not able to read for meaning. With schools being closed, our hope was that a book in their own language will help foster a love for reading, open their imaginations and improve literacy levels while reading for enjoyment.

Due to Covid-19, this was the first time we were not able to organise a Mandela Day event with activities for the kids or personally hand out their gifts. Instead, a personalized Mandela Day card was added to each Family-Pack with the child’s name along with a Madiba quote: A winner is a dreamer who never gives up:) On Mandela Day, the James House team handed these out to the families in the Imizamo Yethu and Hangberg community. James House has expressed their heartfelt thanks to all involved and reported that the Family-Packs were well-received!

100 Family-Packs were only possible because of each person’s contribution…proof that through a collective effort, we can make an impact on the lives of those less fortunate!

   

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Mandela Day – Clean up with parolees & probationers

For Mandela Day, the IAHV extended its collaboration with the BWS parolees & probationers program, which saw the clean-up of a neglected site that will be turned into a park & community recreation area. The IAHV was provided with great assistance from Protea Plastics CC who supplied 2000 heavy duty black plastic bags & refreshments, SAPS Evaton who provided support, as well as BP garage who sponsored food for the team of 50 incredible volunteers.

The catalyst for the event was an ex inmate who supports his community after being inspired to take action after participating in our prison program a few years back at Department of Correctional Services – Groenpunt.

This is a start of many such initiatives that are being rolled out across the Vaal.

 

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Youth Village Project distributed 100 pairs of school shoes

As part of #MandelaDay2019, The IAHV Youth Village Project distributed 100 pairs of school shoes to Primary and High school children who were in dire need of them.

To find out more about our initiatives in Soweto, please contact Youth Village (Soweto) Project Leader – Aneshree Naidoo

Youth Village Project distributed 100 pairs of school shoes

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Alpha Trauma Centre – Mandela Day 2018

Alpha Trauma Centre is a non-profit organisation based in Vereeniging, Gauteng. They provide free trauma counselling and support for women and children who have fallen victim to sexual assault, rape, abuse or domestic violence. Also provide assistance to older persons.

Thanks to Gavin and Melissa from The International Association for Human Values … who so kindly donated 20 food parcels to Alpha Trauma Centre. In the photo is Gavin (IAHV) on the left with Brahm van der Merwe Centre Manager / Chief Social Worker in the middle and on the right is Mr Dube. Many thanks to the kind donors who contributed towards the food parcels. You make a difference!

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Mandela Day at Groenpunt Department of Correctional Services

The IAHV in conjunction with Groenpunt Department of Correctional Services joined forces in honour of Mandela Day and the 67 blankets initiative. The inmates of Groenpunt prison, under the care of Anita Hanekom, knitted 67 amazing blankets with 20 of these handed over to IAHV Vaal for their Leeuhof Service Project.

See below “Thank You letter” for the amazing donation of 20 hand-knitted blankets… certainly a lot of incredible effort and love went into producing these and I have no doubt that each blanket will find a special place in the hearts and lives of those that will receive them on Thursday Mandela Day!!

The ability to persevere in the face of challenges and to still succeed is the quality of a true leader and an inspiration to all… thank you for continuing to be your amazing self!!!

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Mandela Day 2018

Mandela Day calls on us all, every day, to make the world a better place. Each year on 18 July we look back on what has been done, and forward to what will be done.

Making every day a Mandela Day celebrates Madiba’s life and legacy in a sustainable way that will bring about enduring change.

In celebration of Mandela Day, IAHV in partnership with United Technical Equipment Company (Pty) Ltd (Utec) together with volunteers assisted in packaging 1000 hampers which were distributed to the needy. Approximately 6000 people benefited from receiving the hampers.

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