The Love Trust says that Mandela Day is a time for us to celebrate and remember what a great man Madiba was. It is also a time for us to all work together to achieve common goals to help alleviate poverty, hunger and homelessness.

The Love Trust adds that this day is usually celebrated by each of us devoting 67 minutes through acts of philanthropy and service. The purpose is to empower us to think in the spirit of Ubuntu but also to see what a widespread positive effect we can collectively make with as little as over an hour of our time.

2023 marks a decade since Madiba passed away and in 2023 the Nelson Mandela Foundation has themed the 10-Year Remembrance 'The Legacy Lives on Through You.'

The call to action for Nelson Mandela Day 2023 is 'Climate, Food and Solidarity', which reflects some of the most critical needs people are facing worldwide.

According to The Love Trust, we all need to dig deep to focus on destabilising these issues in an effort to help alleviate poverty and inequality. This involves taking sustainable steps toward climate change efforts and creating resilient food environments and supplies.

The Love Trust would like to encourage fellow change agents to think beyond just 67 minutes and consider what legacy to leave in their wake, for future South Africans.

In this vein, The Love Trust will be undertaking a full week of activities between the Nokuphila School and the Nokuphila Teacher Training Academy to effect the biggest change possible.

The Love Trust will be hosting activities each day of the week from Monday, 17 July to Friday, 21 July. Donors and partners are invited to join in the festivities, whether it be:
  • gathering supplies
  • packing donations, or
  • hosting adult students' workshops.

The Love Trust says, "We take this opportunity to create positive change for our learners and the wider community, in many different aspects of their lives."

Kicking off on Monday, 17 July The Love Trust will start taking steps towards change at the pre-school by planting seedlings for a vegetable garden.

This will be used as a means to supplement the daily school meals, as well as the much-needed food parcels for learners at the Nokuphila School. This is critical, as adequate nutrition plays a vital role in learners' ability to concentrate in the classroom.

Further to creating a sustainable and healthy fresh food supply for the Nokuphila School, The Love Trust will be accepting donated items towards its food pantry.

During this week, The Love Trust aims to pack 50 food parcels for the children whose families require this support the most. These parcels get sent home over the school holidays with the aim of sustaining their nutritional needs during the school break when school meals are not received. 

Each parcel costs just over R400 per pack and is filled with essential pantry items such as:
  • rice
  • maize meal, and
  • lentils.

Looking towards the learner's educational needs, The Love Trust will be collecting stationery items for the primary school, as well as necessary stationery items for the ECD learners and classrooms. Individuals can donate and assist with various packing activities on the day, either by themselves or as part of corporate responsibility programmes.

To meet the intermediate learners' hygiene requirements, The Love Trust has also planned to host an activity around the packing of care packs.

The Love Trust says, "These packs will contain all the necessary items for them to maintain a high level of hygiene and self-care, much needed for our busy learners, who don't always have access to such necessary items."

Donors are invited to donate items and take the time to pack individual bags for the Nokuphila learners.

Further to the food, self-care and educational activities, The Love Trust has undertaken many fun activities throughout the week that involve the updating and upgrading of the playground and classroom equipment.

From painting and spray painting activities to the donation of outdoor play items such as plastic bikes and hula-hoops, The Love Trust strives to create fun and stimulating activities for the students.

In addition, the Nokuphila Teacher Training Academy will host workshops for adult education students. Financial management, services and consulting organisations are invited to donate their time and expertise in sharing fundamental skills in a two-hour workshop on topics ranging from:
  • 'How to budget — basic budgeting skills for someone starting a business (Preschool).'
  • 'Good management — what does it look like?'
  • 'How to be a good Team Leader.'
  • 'Communication skills — how to communicate professionally with stakeholders.'
  • 'Basic computer skills — MS Word, MS Excel, how to set up an email account.'

The Love Trust invites individuals to partake in reading stories to Foundation Phase learners or participate in an exhibition match of their favourite sports game, like netball or soccer. Donations of sporting kits or items for netball, soccer, tennis or volleyball will be greatly appreciated.

The Love Trust sees this as not only an opportunity to engage with the learners but also with the larger community so that everyone can enjoy the benefits of paying it forward and bonding over Madiba's legacy.

For those who cannot participate in The Love Trust programmes, a donation of R670 or R6 700 can be made to help The Love Trust raise R67 000 towards its overall educational needs.

For more information, visit  www.lovetrust.co.za. You can also follow The Love Trust on Facebook or on Instagram.