THE humanitarian legacy of Nelson Mandela will be exemplified next week when Zululanders join the world in devoting 67 minutes of their lives towards a worthy cause.
The Zululand Observer is calling on community members to join its annual ‘Hang out with Madiba’ campaign on Friday, 18 July.
In its third year, the initiative has seen hundreds of Zululanders peg up winter woolies, clothing and blankets on the longest washing line ever on Nelson Mandela International Day.
This year, washing lines will be erected in front of the newspaper’s offices in Empangeni (Baines Road) and in the open space between the Civic Centre and the East Central Arterial in Richards Bay.
Spearheaded by the ZO charity arm ‘Do I Care Enough?’ (DICE), in conjunction with Empangeni and Richards Bay Rotary Clubs, the public is encouraged to bring along jackets, jerseys, scarves, beanies and packets of plastic pegs to fill the line throughout the day.
Last year BHP Billiton in Richards Bay came on board by erecting washing lines outside its two smelter sites, as did a number of other companies in surrounding areas, and companies are encouraged to participate again this year.
Service clubs, school children and business owners also arrived at the ZO offices to peg donated items of clothing onto the extra-long washing line.
More than 1 000 items of winter clothing were collected last year and the aim is to double the support this year.
Washing lines in St Lucia and eShowe were just as busy with the Zululand Observer’s Northern Eyethu and Eyethu Zululand driving the initiative in their areas.
The clothing was donated via DICE to the Crossroads Teen Centre in Empangeni, uThungulu Disaster Management and the uMhlathuze Disaster Management the same day.
So celebrate Nelson Mandela’s birthday this year by acting on the idea that each person has the power to change the world through volunteering and community service for 67 minutes.
See you at the ZO washing line next Friday. Follow @ZOPublications
