Every year on 18 July, South Africa celebrates Mandela Day — a global call to action inspired by the 67 years Nelson Mandela gave to fighting for justice and equality. The ask?
Just 67 minutes of your time. 🙌
As students, you’re literally the generation Madiba believed in most. So this year, instead of scrolling through Mandela Day posts, let’s actually do something.
Easy Ways to Give Back in Hatfield 💛
- Organise a food drive in your building — collect non-perishables and donate to a local shelter. (Ask at the Fields office for nearby organisations.)
- Volunteer at a local NGO or community kitchen in Arcadia or Sunnyside for 67 minutes.
- Create a study pack (pens, a notebook, a calculator) and donate it to a learner in need.
- Clean up a public space near your building — the park, the pavement, the bus stop.
- You can drop off non-perishable food at the management office.
- Check on a classmate who’s been quiet lately. Sometimes showing up is the most powerful thing you can do.
It Doesn’t Have to Be Big 🌱
Here’s the thing about service: it doesn’t need a big budget, a committee, or a plan. It needs intention. 67 minutes is about an hour and seven minutes of your day. You spend more time on TikTok. (No judgement. Same.)
If you want to find registered Mandela Day volunteer opportunities near you, visit the Nelson Mandela Foundation at nelsonmandela.org — they list events across the country every year.
Madiba Said It Best 🕊️
“What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others.”
Happy Mandela Day from all of us at The Fields. Go make those 67 minutes matter. 💛🖤🟢
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