Poverty, inequality, and food insecurity continue to affect millions of South Africans. Mandela Day, observed on 18 July, is a chance to honour Nelson Mandela’s 67 years of activism by dedicating 67 minutes of service toward creating positive social change in our communities. More than just a symbolic gesture, Mandela Day is a powerful reminder of how civil society can drive social justice, compassion, and equality.
Here are seven meaningful ways you can make a difference this year:
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Mandela Day food drive and packing event
Join FoodForward SA’s Mandela Day Food Drive & Packing event — their flagship initiative happening in Cape Town, Johannesburg, and Durban. Roll up your sleeves alongside fellow volunteers to sort and pack nutritious food parcels.
The food you help pack will be distributed to FoodForward SA’s network of over 2,500 beneficiary organisations, which collectively reach nearly 1 million vulnerable people daily — including children, the elderly, and families facing food insecurity.
If you can’t attend in person, consider paying it forward by purchasing a R67 ticket on Webtickets for someone else or visit foodforwardsa.org to donate.
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Plant seeds of change
Support FFSA’s Food Gardens Connect programme and help bridge the gap between poverty and economic opportunity. This initiative empowers community-based organisations and early childhood development centres to grow their own nutritious food, while also creating jobs and promoting self-sustainability.
By providing essential resources, mentorship, and skills training, FoodForward SA helps transform underutilised land into productive gardens that support local feeding schemes and generate income. Whether you volunteer your time, donate gardening supplies, or help fund a new food garden, you’ll be playing a vital role in building healthier, more resilient communities.
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Participate in the Mandela Day Walk & Run
Promote solidarity and community spirit by joining the annual Mandela Day Walk and Run. This marathon offers 5km, 10km, or 21.1km distances and will take place on July 19, 2025, starting from the DP World Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg.
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Volunteer at a Community Kitchen
With winter upon us, many face the harsh realities of hunger and cold. Honour Mandela’s legacy of selflessness by volunteering your time at a local community kitchen. Hundreds of kitchens across the country desperately need a helping hand to provide warmth, compassion, and hearty meals to vulnerable communities.
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Donate clothes to shelters
Homelessness and poverty demand urgent attention. For Mandela Day, consider donating gently used clothes, shoes, toiletries, and blankets to orphanages, women’s shelters, and homeless shelters. Your contribution can provide much-needed comfort and dignity.
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Paint a children’s home or school
Embody the spirit of Ubuntu by volunteering to paint a local children’s home or school. Help revive and breathe new life into facilities in underserved communities, creating a vibrant and welcoming “third space” where disadvantaged children can thrive.
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Spend time with at local orphanages
Combat isolation and foster connection by spending time with marginalised individuals, including the elderly, disabled, and children. You can assemble care packages, toiletry kits, or fun packages filled with puzzles, games, or books to provide entertainment and a sense of being seen and valued.
While Mandela Day encourages us to dedicate 67 minutes to serving others, the spirit of Ubuntu doesn’t have to end there. True change happens when we carry that same compassion and commitment into our everyday lives.
Whether it’s a small gesture or a sustained effort, giving back—consistently and consciously—helps build a more just, kind, and united South Africa. Let Mandela Day be the spark but let your actions be ongoing.
