#MandelaDay: Sandton Central celebrates Mandela centenary by being a force for positive change

In the spirit of #MandelaDay and to mark the centenary of Nelson Mandela’s birth, Sandton Central’s people are going the extra mile by volunteering to make a positive difference.

Nelson Mandela International Day is celebrated around the world on the birthday of Nelson Mandela, 18 July, to honour his life and legacy. Everyone is invited to share in this celebration by giving 67 minutes of volunteerism and joining this global movement to change the world for the better.

“This is exactly what the Sandton Central community is doing, with businesses and their staff, local residents and visitors all coming together to cast a wide net of caring that covers communities near and far,” says Elaine Jack, City Improvement District Manager of Sandton Central Management District (SCMD).

The centenary celebration campaign encourages us to take #ActionAgainstPoverty, inspire change, cement a culture of volunteerism, and make every day a Mandela Day.

Here are some of the initiatives planned by Sandton Central’s leading businesses:

FedGroup Financial Services takes part in the Nelson Mandela Blanket project each year, and every year participation grows. Their efforts help to keep people warm in winter and teaches people new skills – crocheting and knitting.

Fieldspace Property Management will be supporting Mme Dimpo Hani Childcare Centre in Soweto again this year. They have a vegetable garden there and Fieldspace will donate and plant seeds on the day in addition to donating blankets to them.

Forest Farm is a residential facility providing specialised care for adults from all backgrounds who are afflicted with cerebral palsy. This Mandela Day, it is inviting local businesses and residents to get involved.

Growthpoint Properties is expressing its volunteerism by preparing meals for children who are part of the African Children Feeding scheme. They provide meals to over 30,000 school-going children in Gauteng throughout the year.

Hilton Sandton is honouring Tata’s 100th birthday by partnering with NPOs and donating linen and towels, among other items.

Nedbank is once again fully embracing the spirit of Mandela Month by partnering with Habitat of Humanity to build 10 houses across the country to the value of R1m. For its Mandela Month House build, the bank is challenging its employees and the nation to raise R1m to build the houses in October. Every R10 sponsors a brick and every R100 000 builds a house. Any contribution, big or small, helps towards realising a community member’s homeownership dreams.
Nedbank Property Services is collecting new Teddy Bears for distribution at the Chris Hani Baragwanath Mother and Child wards to make a difference in the lives of these children.

Radisson Blu Gautrain Hotel will share Random Acts of Kindness for Mandela Day, which will include giving care packets to the homeless. Its journey of kindness will end at the SOS Children’s Village. The hotel has also partnered with Hospitality Property Fund to collect donations for Thandulwazi Day Care Centre and will be going there on Mandela Day to donate colouring books, crayons, children’s educational toys’, and more. Radisson Blu Gautrain Hotel staff are giving donations for both activities.

Redefine Properties has partnered with the Abland Foundation to support Hawk Academy, a school in Germiston that educates 900 children from the local informal settlement. It is donating new and used age-appropriate books from Grades R to 8.

Sandton Convention Centre hosted the “Packing Challenge” on Friday, 13 July.

Sanlam also celebrates its centenary this year. In line with its commitment to making a difference today and for generations to come, it is launching the ‘One Learner, One Pair of Shoes’ campaign to help ensure that needy primary school learners at its Blue Ladder schools have a pair of school shoes. Shoes and donations will be collected until the end of July and delivered to learners in August.