{What are you doing for 67 minutes on Mandela Day?}

So {Thrifters} what are you doing on the 18 July 2012? 

We are sure you know that it is Mandela Day. International Nelson Mandela Day not only celebrates Nelson Mandela’s life, but it is also a global call to action for people to recognize their ability to have a positive effect on others around them. The day hopes to inspire people to embrace the values that Mandela shared. These values include democracy, freedom, equality, diversity, reconciliation and respect.

Get involved this Mandela Day : contribute 67 minutes of your time towards the global movement for good.

How to get involved on Mandela Day 2012:

Charity begins at home:  take a look around, “spring clean” your room/house and donate the unwanted items to a charity of your choice. You’ll not only be doing something good for others, but for yourself as well.

Donate your time and talent:  you don’t need to be wealthy to donate something valuable. Either volunteer to help with the day-to-day tasks undertaken by local charities, or offer a service based on your own unique skill set: cook someone a delicious meal, or give a community member a hand in repairing something broken. You could spend some time helping with the babies at the Durban North or Umhlanga Baby House.  http://www.facebook.com/#!/DurbanNorthBabyHouse

Save the world, one sandwich at a time:  buy a loaf of bread, a chunk of cheese, and a few tomatoes, then make a couple of sandwiches and hand them out to those in need on your way to work or school. You could make this even simpler by buying a big bag of whichever fruit is in season (it’s normally cheaper), and do the same. Rather give food than money to those in need.

Become a bookworm:  Burrow deep into the hearts of those at a retirement home or a hospice by reading to them, or help a struggling learner develop literacy skills.  You can also donate your old, unwanted books to Just Us 4 Children – they hold a book sale on the last Saturday of every month outside Broadway Pharmacy in Durban North – all proceeds go to their charity.  http://www.facebook.com/#!/JustUs4Children

The gift of life:  donate blood and you’ll feel dizzy with the knowledge that you’ve potentially saved someone’s life; a single donation could aid up to three people in need and only takes about 30 minutes. To find a blood drive in your area, visit :  http://www.sanbs.org.za

Alternately, there are currently thousands of South African citizens waiting for life-saving organ donations, so take the time to register with the Organ Donor Foundation (Tel: +27 (0)800 22 66 11).

Join Habitat for Humanity:   From 16 to 20 July 2012, this well-known social enterprise is embarking on a nationwide blitz to build 67 houses for those in need. The organisation is calling on all South Africans to either volunteer their time on-site or to donate much-needed funds to finance materials.    http://www.habitat.org.za

Volunteer at an animal shelter:  our furry and feathered friends need a helping hand too. Whether you’re walking a dog or cleaning out cages, your time and energy will be highly appreciated.  http://www.nspca.co.za

We hope you are inspired by these ideas.  We have mentioned a few of our favourite charities but you are encouraged to support any worthy cause in your area. We will be using some of our 67 minutes to donate blood tomorrow, and then we will be donating clothing to charity.  Please feel free to comment if you know of any worthy causes or just want to share what you did with your 67 minutes.

Love
Ash & Em
Xx

Credits to :  CapeTownMagazine.com and Google Images