By Nkeko Motloutsi

The theme for 2021 is: “One Hand Can Feed Another.”

Mandela Day was officially declared by the United Nations in November 2009, to acknowledge Mandela’s values and dedication of service of humanity and struggle for International Democracy and peace globally. He was the first black president to be inaugurated in South Africa after spending 27 years in prison.

The Action Against Poverty Campaign encourages people to contribute to society on this special day by rendering service for 67 minutes in honour for Madiba. They came up with the #Each1Feed1 as a way of making a dent to the scourge of poverty and assisting in the alleviation thereof.

The humanitarian initiative urges members of communities to lend a helping hand to those in need of support. One can start a community project in collaboration with government, businesses and the community at large by supplying face masks, sanitizers, soap, disinfectants, toiletries, sanitary towels, food parcels etc. to the impoverished. There are those who are struggling to make ends meet at the moment due to the negative impact of COVID-19 on their households and businesses. They should be the beneficiaries of such propositions.

Volunteer your time at schools, kindergartens, hospices, hospitals, old-age homes, havens for the homeless and prisons. Among other things to do on this day, people can distribute care kits with soaps, towels, toothpaste, toothbrush and all other necessities already mentioned. It should be borne in mind that as volunteers go about executing their duties and pepping up others, alert Level 4 lockdown protocols must be strictly adhered to in order to curb the spread of the virus.

Remember all this is done as an opportunity to uplift the nobility of the less fortunate. Any act of kindness, no matter how minimal it may seem, will make a vast difference in the lives of those who live in abject poverty. Change lives in your neighbourhood as movement is restricted due to the pandemic which has taken a massive toll on masses.