Mandela Day is a special one for many charities as they are given so much love for one day, so we have come up with ways to help that will last longer than 67 minutes.
South Africa (11 July 2022) – Every year, we highlight a few causes leading up to Mandela Day, but it is never enough to cover all the things happening on the day; so we thought we would do a round-up of things you can do and charities you can support.
For Good Things Guy, Mandela Day needs to be about more than just 67 minutes. The work done by individuals or organisations needs to make a lasting impact that resonates for months and years to come. Many companies will spend the required 67 minutes helping and then the rest of the 525 533 minutes of the year, contributing nothing. That is not our vibe! So everything you will find in this article, celebrates the lasting impact.
The concept of Mandela Day is simple. On the 18th of July each year, in honour of President Nelson Mandela and his birthday, people are encouraged to head out and do 67 minutes of good within the community.
Charities always welcome a helping hand, and any donations as these make a massive difference in the work they are able to do.
“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.” – Nelson Mandela
Five ways to make a lasting impact with no budget.
- Donate blood at your local blood bank. Every unit of blood can save a minimum of three lives as blood is separated into red blood cells, plasma and platelets. – Now that is an impact for life!
- Sign up to be an Organ Donor. The impact may not be made right away, but one day you will be the reason someone can live life to the fullest.
- Register to become a bone marrow donor. You can sign up as a bone marrow donor at www.dkms-africa.org or www.sabmr.co.za.
- Walk or play with an animal at your nearest animal welfare organisation. It is free, fun and a very heartwarming way to spend an hour. If you want to make a lasting impact, commit to this activity several times a month.
- Pick up litter at your local park, beach, river or forest. If you want to make a lasting impact, commit to this activity several times a month.
Five ways to make a lasting impact if you have some budget.
- Sponsor an animal at your local animal welfare organisation on a monthly basis. This funding will go a long way to keeping the organisation afloat. Once you have spent your hour on Mandela Day socialising with all the animals, ask the organisation how you can support them monthly.
- Donate a bag of non-perishable groceries to your nearest soup kitchen, children’s home or shelter. These groceries can make a few very nutritious meals. Include things like cooking oil, tinned foods, dried beans, rice, stock cubes and so on.
- There are thousands of people raising funds for every cause, charity and medical need you can think of. Find a local crowdfunding platform and help them reach their goal. You can check out BackaBuddy, Thundafund, Feenix, or Quicket – to name a few. Many of these allow you to set up a monthly donation too.
- Make a donation to the anti-poaching units in South Africa. These men and women are on the frontline of a never-ending fight to protect the animals of our nation. The money is used to protect our most trafficked animals and keep them around for generations to come.
- Invest in a community gardening project or any project that helps people learn a new skill that can feed or support their family.
What would really make the most impact after your 67 minutes is to do it more often instead of only once a year. Sometimes the best way to make a difference is to just show up and then keep showing up!
If you are looking for a charity to support, check out our 2022 charity list here. You will find a charity for every single thing you can imagine.
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