Over 100 guests rolled up their sleeves to paint classrooms, jungle gyms and more at Christel House South Africa (CHSA) while high school students collected food and clothing items for a local youth care center. All volunteered 67 minutes for Mandela Day, in appreciation of the 67 years that Nelson Mandela spent fighting for justice, equality and human rights. Nelson Mandela International Day launched in 2010 and is celebrated annually on July 18, Mandela’s birthday. This year, bold colors of red, blue, green, and yellow paint are brightening up the school campus. “Our school is a safe haven for students who come from communities where they face many challenges,” says Adri Marais, CHSA CEO. “They spend much of their time at school, so ensuring that they have a beautiful place to call ‘home’ is extremely important. We are therefore grateful to each person who offered their 67 minutes to help beautify our school.” Staff from some of our school’s donor and partner companies braved the cold to volunteer their 67 minutes. “Mandela Day reminds us to be thankful for the selfless acts and legacy that Madiba left behind,” commented Chris Buchanan, a representative from Dell Technologies and a CHSA Board Member. “We had loads of fun today, painting the playground!” Despite their challenging circumstances, students are encouraged to give back by participating in several service-learning initiatives throughout the year.
Organizations that supported CHSA on Mandela Day 2022: Dell Technologies, CHEP, Roche, Smollan Itrade, The Cape Grace Hotel, Telviva, NoName Hospitality Group and DataOrbis.