The Nelson Mandela Foundation is inviting everyone to join them on 18 July as we honour Madiba’s birthday by contributing to meeting the immediate needs of the most vulnerable communities.
While the Mandela Day call to action remains a general call to reach out to those in need, this year, the focus will be on the challenge of food security. Before Covid-19, the statistics showed us that one in four six-year-olds in South Africa suffered from stunting due to malnutrition. The ravages of the pandemic will surely worsen this devastating reality. By harnessing the Each1Feed1 programme to Mandela Day and developing the 4Cans4MandelaDay campaign, we aim to ensure that basic foodstuffs reach the most vulnerable communities this July. In the longer term, we are committed to using our research and advocacy capacity to address the systemic issues which cause food insecurity in our country.
We believe that getting this right is fundamental to social cohesion and respect for the rule of law. Each 1 Feed 1 is a food distribution network championed by the Nelson Mandela Foundation that was started at the beginning of the lockdown to support families who have been worst affected by the challenge of food insecurity. Beneficiaries have included child-headed households, orphaned families, the elderly, people who are informally employed in the ECD workforce as well as people living with disabilities. The food pack has historically been robust and nutritious, capable of supporting a family of five for at least a month.
The public is encouraged to emulate the campaign in their own ways to ensure that everyone has access to food this Mandela Day. We are inviting the public to donate to the campaign via our GivenGain platform or by contributing to the Each 1 Feed 1 #4Cans4MandelaDay call to action.
Over Mandela Month, July 2021, the public is encouraged to contribute to the Each 1 Feed 1 food distribution network by donating non-perishable food items at all participating malls for Mandela Day. All participating malls will have clearly marked signage and a Mandela Day representative at the collection point where people can drop off their donations.
Lastly, the public is encouraged to register on the Mandela Day Global Network on our ForGood platform. Here, you will find pre-vetted NGOs looking for volunteers this Mandela Month to safely donate time, skills, and resources. The ForGood platform is also an excellent portal to find ‘microvolunteering’ opportunities from the convenience and safety of home.
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