DON’T stop at 67 minutes or one day of good deeds, rather spread the love throughout the year by helping where you can.
Launched in 2009, Nelson Mandela International Day is celebrated annually on the former president’s birthday, 18 July. The aim of the day is to make positive change in the world – whether it impacts on one life or many.
But why limit this positivity to one day? Here are some ideas to continue changing the world for the better well beyond 18 July:
1. Become a blood donor.
The South African National Blood Service needs 3,000 units of blood daily to meet demand. Each unit of blood you donate can save up to three lives and you can donate blood every 56 days, meaning your blood has the potential to save up to 20 lives per year.
To become a donor, you must be aged from 16 to 65-years-old, weigh at least 50kg and lead a sexually safe life. The South Durban Donor Centre is based at Southway Mall, call 031-459-0986 for details. To find your nearest clinic go to www.sanbs.org.za, call the toll free hotline 0800-119-031 or SMS your name and post code to 31454.
2. Join local youth/Lions/Rotary/Scout/leadership club or your local community safety organisation.
There are many leadership programmes, groups or clubs that offer services and charity to others. Join one of these groups and make an impact on your community.
3. Become a volunteer for Habitat for Humanity.
Volunteers help build homes for people in need. These trips last from one to two weeks and people work in teams in Central Asia, Mexico, Kenya, Hungary and Romania among others.
For details or to apply to become a volunteer go to www.habitat.org/emea.
4. Volunteer to walk a dog at your local SPCA, offer to clean/build cages at the Centre for Rehabilitation of Wildlife (CROW), or help out at any local animal sanctuaries.
Some local options include:
CROW: crowkzn.co.za or 031-462-1127.
Monkey Helpline: www.monkeyhelpline.co.za.
Amanzimtoti SPCA: www.spcatoti.co.za or 031-904-2424.
Durban and Coast SPCA: www.spcadbn.org.za or 031-579-6500.
5. Visit the elderly at a retirement home.
Often people in retirement homes have very few visitors. Spend a few hours at a home and help brighten someone’s day.
6. Donate clothes, food and other items to orphanages, old age homes, animal sanctuaries or other organisations.
7. Clean verges.
A small change close to home can make the world of difference. If you keep the area around your home clean and free of litter, it can improve the area for all and as an added bonus, potentially improve property rates if you get the whole street involved.
