Candy Lynn Smit, head of the Humanities and Social Sciences faculty at the IIE’s Varsity College Waterfall, took part in a meaningful celebration for Mandela Day by dedicating 67 minutes to a collaborative effort with Noordwyk Primary School.
This initiative aimed to honor the legacy of Nelson Mandela by engaging in activities that would benefit the school community, particularly focusing on the critical area of literacy.
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The 67 minutes were specifically dedicated to revamping and restocking the school’s library, a space that plays a vital role in fostering a love for reading among learners.
Alongside Smit, a dedicated team from the Waterfall campus, which included staff members such as Snenhlanhla Hlongwana, Busisiwe Mthimunye, Nomcebo Langa, and Nzulu Skosana, joined forces with members of the college’s VC Cares committee.
Together, they worked diligently to transform the library into an inviting and resource-rich environment for the learners.
The team engaged in various tasks to ensure the library was not only clean and organised but also beautifully decorated, thereby creating a vibrant atmosphere that would encourage learners to spend time reading and exploring new ideas.
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The effort was not limited to the interior of the library, the team also took the initiative to create a small succulent garden outside the library. This garden was designed to serve as a natural retreat for the students, providing them with a space to connect with nature and enjoy the outdoors, which is an essential aspect of their overall development.
In addition to the library makeover, the team distributed 500 specially designed Mandela Day bookmarks to the Grade 6 and 7 learners.
These bookmarks featured inspiring quotes from Nelson Mandela himself, reinforcing the significance of literacy and the enduring legacy of this iconic leader.
Smit expressed her enthusiasm about participating in the Mandela Day initiative at the school, highlighting the positive impact of their collective efforts.
“67 Minutes were too short, but we managed to achieve a lot as a team. It was break time, so while we cleaned the space and stocked the shelves with books, I could hear the children laughing and playing outside and hope they would be as excited to spend time reading,” explained Smit.
“Nelson Mandela himself said, ‘when we read we are able to travel to many places, meet many people and understand the world’, so it was fitting that we could honour his memory in this way.”
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