67 minutes may seem like a small pocket of time, but when South Africans band together, the impact can be monumental. This Mandela Day, volunteers from Crown Relocations South Africa and Crown Records Management South Africa dedicated their time and effort to pack 150 meal packs and knit 150 scarves, distributing them to those in need. This initiative aimed to alleviate food insecurity and provide warmth to vulnerable South Africans during the harsh winter months.
A dedicated team of volunteers brightened up the streets surrounding their head office in Modderfontein, Johannesburg, tying scarves along with meal packs to trees and distributing scarves and food packs to displaced individuals, making a significant difference in the lives of those facing hardships. The remaining scarves and food packs were donated to Hamba Bamba Funda, a non-profit organisation based in Johannesburg that advocates for early childhood education for underprivileged children from birth to two years old.
In the words of Nelson Mandela, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” Hamba Bamba Funda embodies this philosophy, hosting a Mandela Day workshop for ‘67 Mothers with 67 Babies for 67 Minutes’. This year’s theme, Nurture Nutrition, with the goal of educating mothers on the importance of proper nutrition and stimulation for the healthy development of their babies.
Monja Boozaaier, Founding Director of Hamba Bamba Funda, expressed heartfelt gratitude to Crown Records Management and Crown Relocations South Africa for their generosity: “Donations like these are vital to the mothers we support through education. Each Jar of Hope we gave to the mothers who attended our Mandela Day workshop, containing soup ingredients, can feed four to six people, providing much-needed nourishment to vulnerable families. At our workshop this year, we showed the mothers how to prepare a nourishing meal using the Jars of Hope for their families, the meal packs and scarves donated by Crown will go a long way in supporting these families.”
Ian Pettey, Managing Director of Crown Relocations South Africa, shared his sentiments: “It is humbling to have the opportunity to impact the lives of people who need a hand up, not a hand out. Seeing how programs like Hamba Bamba Funda empower mothers in under-resourced communities is truly inspiring. Their ethos of ‘Early Learning is critical, making it available to all, shapes communities’ resonates deeply with us as an organisation. We felt privileged to join these remarkable people and make our small contribution in honouring Madiba and the people of our beautiful country.”
Crown Relocations and Crown Records Management South Africa’s commitment to community service exemplifies the spirit of Mandela Day, making a lasting impact on the lives of those they touched.
