Everyone was jumping and skipping to the beat of loud music to show their gratitude and appreciation for what they have.
The Department of Social Development hosted the Mandela Day Gratitude Walk on 29 July at the Roodepoort City Hall. A gratitude walk is an inspiring mass action where a large number of people walk together. The sole intention is to focus on the things they appreciate and are grateful for. The walk has a set starting point and a pre-determined end point.
The Department of Social Development, in conjunction with the non-profit organisation Thembalimbe, organised this event. Thembalimbe is a women’s organisation in Tshepisong which supports other charities by donating blankets, food, etc.
The Health Department, Afrisam, Citizens Relations and Urban Management (CRUM) and Show me your Number (an organisation using sport, arts and culture to raise awareness for HIV) were also involved in the activities.
The proceedings started with a mass aerobics session, in which everyone present participated. The aerobic session was followed by a two kilometre walk through parts of Roodepoort.
Dorah Mashite, Regional Manager of the Department for Social Development Region C said, “After the walk, we will be donating blankets and soccer balls to various charity centres. We will also give them a meal which includes the new Joburg Bread, made from normal flour mixed with mango flour.”
The charities present at the event included organisations such as the Early Childhood Development Centres (ECD), the Office for Victims of Violent Crimes (OVC), Child Headed Households (CHH) and schools for children with disabilities.
The department is encouraging people to lead a healthy lifestyle by promoting their Health Programme. “We have an aerobics class every Friday morning from 6am to 8am which is led by our MEC Nonceba Molwela. These classes take place at our head office in Johannesburg,” Mashite said.
For more pictures click here.
To watch videos of the aerobics go to the following links:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0TJBDBZpDg&feature=youtu.be
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Um1RXjN5WsA&feature=youtu.be
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