This year I did things differently. In fact, it was my first initiative that I was a part of on Mandela Day. It just so happened that I’ve always been busy every other year.
I was so excited when I got approached to help along at the Mandela Day with the Bothongo Group and Impumelelo Day Care school. I arrived and waited for the kids to arrive. Early morning of July 18th, 5 buses later, 267 kids all aged between 1 and 9 years old. These kids were beyond excited.
They were transported all the way to Gauteng’s premier nature reserve. We had a host of activities planned on the day for the children, teachers, and volunteers – breakfast packs, lunch, refreshments, face painters, balloon artists, sweet treats, cup-cake decorating, soccer ball gifts, lucky packets and other goodies. For the first time ever, these children and their teachers who tugged at our heart-strings also experienced a game drive, visited Bothongo’s animal ambassador interaction program, witnessed a live snake shows and got to visit the beautiful animals on the reserve. The reserve even has a black panther amongst their rhinos, lions, tigers, monkeys and a host of other unique species.
To end the day, Corlett Modise, Director of the Bothongo Group cut our birthday cake made by Annica’sDesigner Patisserie as we all sung happy birthday to Madiba. The Bothongo Group in conjunction with Brent Lindeque from The Good Things Guy donated R20k to IMPUMELELO Day care.
We could not have pulled off this day without the help of our incredible sponsors, The Baron Group (011 JHB), Good Things Guy, Darren Scott, Mix FM, Wingz of Change, Nature Valley, Doppio Zero (Bedfordview and Bellair).
We all had such a wonderful day giving back and seeing all the smiles on the children’s faces. “Singular causes are temporary but humanitarianism is forever,” says Bothongo’s Group Marketing Manager, Asheen Dayal, “we look forward to a lasting relationship with the centre and creating new perennial ones with other life- changing organisations in the years to come.” As the children departed, our melting hearts couldn’t deny thatwe may still partner with Impumelelo Day Care for future activities.
“We can change the world and make it a better place. It is in your hands to make a difference.”
– Nelson Mandela
For more info on the Impumelelo Day Care school or on the Bothongo Group (Pty) Ltd please visit www.bothongogroup.co.za
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