YOLANDE DU PREEZ
Nelson Mandela once said: “What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead.” And this is exactly what many NPOs around the valley will be doing on Mandela Day Monday July 18 – making a difference.
Mandela Day was launched in 2009 and was inspired by Madiba’s encouragement of the youth to take on the burden of leadership and to address social injustices. He said: “It is in your hands now.”
The day honours his legacy and is a global movement. The message is simple – each individual has the ability and the responsibility to change the world and make it a better place.
On Saturday July 16, Domestic Animal Rescue Group (DARG) will host a Madiba Fair from 10am until 3pm.
There will be kiddies’ drawing competition and some great prizes such as a breakfast for two at Tintswalo up for grabs. And for those who wish to give back to the community, there will be volunteer activities such as doing laundry, cleaning the grounds, making dog toys, making dog treats and shredding paper for cat litter boxes. Entry is R10. There will be a food and coffee truck available.
And on Monday July 18, volunteers can joint the DARG team for 67 minutes between 10am and 3pm to further assist with activities such as cleaning the grounds, making dog toys, making dog treats and shredding paper for cat litter boxes.
And Bethesda Hout Bay calls all Grade 10 to 12 pupils to volunteer at Bethesda by selling Casual Day stickers, handing out Bethesda flyers to raise awareness for people with disabilities and to team up and distribute Casual Day stickers that will be worn on Friday September 2. Time spent at Bethesda Hout Bay can contribute towards 67 minutes of community service time for Life Orientation (LO), a Grade 12 requirement.
Bethesda value packs to the value of R67 will also be available on Monday. The pack includes a Casual Day sticker, entry to win a brand-new Suzuki Swift GA, a free muffin and a cup of coffee or tea. There will also be a variety of gifts available, handmade by the clients of Bethesda Hout Bay. For more information, call Delia on 021 790 7037
And for Hout Bay residents who feel the need to spend their 67 minutes outdoors, Thrive Hout Bay invites the public to join Thrive and the International School of Hout Bay (ISHB) senior pupils to uproot Port Jackson seedlings on the Constantiaberg mountain next to the Baviaanskloof river at 1.15pm. Meet at the top of Baviaanskloof Road. The hack will start promply at 1.53pm, work for 67 minutes and will end at 3pm with the sound of a gong. Take your own screwdriver and gloves along.
The public can also join Thrive at 3pm in the parking lot next to the Hout Bay community centre where they can purchase a protea or fynbos plant (priced between R40 and R150), have a photo taken, dig a hole and plant a tree.
Another activity to enhance the Hout Bay Common, now named the United Park, will be to clean up litter along the Baviaans River between Darling Street and Main Road.
Take black bags and gloves. The activity will end at 4.30pm.
For more information, call Bronwen Lankers-Byrne on 021 790 7226.
Lalela Hout Bay will be involved in a “beautification” project at Hout Bay High School from 1pm on Monday where pupils will be designing, cleaning and repainting and beautifying key areas in the school such as the entrance hallway – which will also become a pop-up gallery comprising Lalela artwork – the girls’ toilet area and a classroom that Lalela has use of.
Motivational words and phrases will be applied to pillars in the quadrangle as well as work in the area around the vegetable garden. Hout Bay residents are welcome to join the team from Lalela Hout Bay and the pupils from Hout Bay High School for a fun filled and creative day. For more information, email Oliver Nurock at ohjaygee@icloud.com
There is lots to be done in the Valley on Monday so be sure to give back to your community on Mandela Day by following in the footsteps of an icon.