We did our good deeds for the day and touched many lives.
The most important question is if we will continue to do good for the charities and the less fortunate who we helped on the day.
I believe Mandela Day should not be a one day event, but an ongoing thing which individuals commit themselves to.
I was pleased to see all the people who devoted their weekend to do good deeds for people who are in need.
We don’t have to spend money to show we love and care for people. Spending time with others also shows them how important they are in our lives.
Committing to do something good for other people does not only benefit the recipient, but also the giver.
We are so used to the give and take methodology that we have forgotten how to give without expecting anything in return.
I spent the day with the most ambitious group of children at an orphanage around Ekurhuleni.
At first, I thought it would be a very tricky 67 minutes, because I’m not one to do a lot of voluntary work.
I was surprised at how easy going the little ones were towards everyone who came to spend the day with them.
They kept on asking why we only came on Mandela Day and not regularly?
That question really hit home and made me understand the importance of continuously showing love and care towards people.
I understand that we get busy at times and don’t have the time to go and devote an hour to an organisation or an individual.
But if we can try and invest an hour a month in doing voluntary work and helping the less fortunate, we can achieve more.
In the midst of everything we never had a sad moment like I had anticipated.
What I saw was children with so much hope.
My day spent at the orphanage did more for me than I did for them.
I got a different perception on giving and taking and the need for helping others.
