Double dose of Mandela goodness

STAFF at Nelson Mandela Bay Tourism (NMBT) celebrated Mandela Day when they embarked on a two-day outreach programme to Linge Tots Development Centre in Kwazakhele and Sukume Museum and Cultural Centre in Walmer.

Mandela Day - July 18, Nelson Mandela’s birthday - sees people all over the world giving 67minutes of their time to assist needy people, communities and even animals. The “67” is attributed to the 67 years that Mandela served fighting for the rights of humanity.

“Mandela Day serves as a reminder of the contribution Nelson Mandela made to so many South African’s through his selfless and compassionate approach to every person that he came into contact with.  NMBT as an organization strives to achieve the ‘Madiba-way’ by reaching out to add value and give support to less fortunate communities in this wonderful city of ours,” said NMBT marketing manager, Titus Chuene.

The outreach programme kicked off with a ceremonial hand over of a R 15 000 cheque to the Linge Tots Development Centre in Kwazakhele. Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) donated the much-needed funds for infrastructural upgrades at the centre.

The second part continued on Friday two days later, when the NMBT crew and other volunteers all joined in to help start a vegetable garden at the Sukume Museum and Cultural Centre for a HIV support group in Gqebera (Walmer Township). The day was concluded with a soccer clinic sponsored by the Mustangs Sports Academy.  They donated soccer balls, numbered jerseys and socks to 40 girls and boys from the aftercare centre that will enable them to participate in league games in future.

“I am overwhelmed but not surprised by the response from the people of Nelson Mandela Bay.  It was really great to see so many people making time to attend the hand-over at Linge Tots. A gentleman approached me on arrival and made a donation of R500, we also received clothes, toys, milk and even a second hand television for the centre. Others came forward and offered services such as counseling while two teenage girls offered to donate their time to help around the centre. They had read about our initiative on our website,” said NMBT CEO, Mandlakazi Skefile.

The Linge Tots Development Centre provides therapy and basic pre-school education for physically and mentally challenged children between the ages of 0 to 12 years and currently caters for 30 children from the surrounding communities.

“I am so grateful for the donation. We will be able to upgrade the bathroom facilities and playroom area. I want to thank everyone who came to offer their time to us, it means a lot to the children and us,” said founder of the centre Fezeka Gawula.

The overall success of the outreach was welcomed by NMBT, “Our Mandela Day initiative has been a huge success. We had two very touching experiences both at Linge Tots and gardening at Sukume centre. To see so many people come together while doing something good for others, was heart-warming. At our Sukume, NMBT put the centre in contact with the department of agriculture, hoping that it would evolve into mentoring and agri-education,” said Chuene.