Mandela Day - #ItsInOurHands

7 Inspiring Examples Of Marking Mandela Day Through Impactful Initiatives

By Fiona Wakelin

1. DP World Wanderers Stadium.

The highly anticipated Nelson Mandela Foundation Mandela Day Walk and Run 2025 event, is proudly brought to you by BP Southern Africa, Balwin Properties and Mahindra. Scheduled to take place on July 19th July 2025 at Wanderers Stadium, this annual event is dedicated to promoting community service and inspiring positive change within our communities.

This is an important occasion in celebrating Nelson Mandela’s legacy of unity, service and compassion. The event is expected to attract 10,000 walkers and runners united in spreading kindness and making a positive difference in their communities.

Participants have the opportunity to select from three distances - 5km, 10km, and 21km. Entry fees vary from R 100 to R 200 for the event, which will commence and conclude at the DP World Wanderers Stadium, a proud supporter of the event this year. The 5km route will go through parts of Illovo and Melrose North, while the 10km and 21km routes will include sections of Houghton Estate, passing by some iconic sites such as the Nelson Mandela Foundation and Nelson Mandela’s residence.

Venue : DP World Wanderers Stadium, Corlett Drive, Illovo, Sandton, Johannesburg

2. French-South African Chamber of Commerce (FSACCI)

In the spirit of Ubuntu and shared responsibility, the French-South African Chamber of Commerce is partnering with Sandton SPCA, enabling teams to spend the full day volunteering at the animal shelter. Activities included gardening, cleaning kennels, playing with animals, and creating a story-sharing library there

3. Lions Cricket and Ashraful Aid

Lions Cricket and Ashraful Aid are once again joining forces for one of Johannesburg’s largest Mandela Day volunteer events, taking place on Thursday, 18 July 2025, at the iconic DP World Wanderers Stadium.

Now in its fifth year, this initiative has become a cornerstone of Mandela Day in Gauteng, drawing together hundreds of volunteers, corporates, and community members. The goal for 2025 is to pack 5,000 food hampers that will reach more than 20,000 vulnerable South Africans, including women-headed households, children, and the elderly.This collaboration between a leading humanitarian organisation and a beloved sporting institution reflects a shared commitment to practical, community-driven impact. From 09h00, volunteers will fill the stadium field, working side by side, guided by Madiba’s enduring values of compassion, dignity, and service.

4. Uhlanga Books - Keeping stories alive: a Mandela Month call to support township literacy

On Saturday 26 July, the streets of Khayelitsha will come alive with the sound of stories. Children will gather at the Thusong Centre with wide eyes, open ears and eager hearts.

The 3rd Annual Khayelitsha Children’s Book Fair, hosted by Uhlanga Books, is not just a celebration of storytelling. It is a bold and joyful response to one of South Africa’s most pressing challenges: the literacy gap in under-resourced communities. Rooted in the theme “Kwathi ke kaloku Ngantsomi”, the fair honours Africa’s rich oral traditions. The phrase, in isiXhosa, is traditionally used to begin folktales and means “Once upon a time, in a story…”. It signals that what follows will be a journey into imagination, memory, wisdom, and wonder.

Children will take part in storytelling sessions in indigenous languages, critical-thinking games, and reading corners, and each child will leave with a book of their own to take home.

“The book fair is about more than reading; it’s about visibility, identity, and power,” says Zimkitha Zilo, founder of Uhlanga Books. “It’s about reminding our children that their stories matter, that imagination is a right, and that language is a bridge, not a barrier.”

5. Rise Against Hunger

This year, Rise Against Hunger Africa will host several large-scale national events in recognition of the life and service of Nelson Mandela. These events provide a platform for corporate volunteers to give 67 minutes of their day and pack nutritious meals. For a donation of R12 950.00 per team, corporates are encouraged to send teams of 12–18 staff members to participate and represent their organisation. Meals packaged provide hope and nutrition to Early Childhood Development centres, which Rise Against Hunger Africa supports.

The ECD Connect programme links good nutrition with education for thousands of children during their developmental years. Our ongoing theme of It Starts With a Meal highlights that when children start their lives by receiving nutritious food during their formative years, they have an increased chance of developing both physically and mentally, which sets their lives on track for a better future.

18 People, 67 Minutes, 3 240 Meals

36 people, 67 Minutes, 6 480 Meals

72 people, 67 Minutes , 12 960 Meals

July 9, 2025

• Location 1: Bloemfontein –Windmill Casino

July 11, 2025

• Location 1: Pietermaritzburg –Golden Horse Casino

July 18, 2025

• Location 1: Durban –The Station

• Location 2: Johannesburg –Sandton Convention Centre

• Location 3: Midrand –Mall of Africa

• Location 4: Cape Town –GrandWest Casino and Entertainment World

6. Adpot-a-School Foundation

Back to School for Mandela Day 2025

Back to School for Mandela Day commemorates the principles of active citizenship and volunteerism. This campaign serves to recognise and support the dedicated organisations that operate on the front lines, advocating for various social causes that are crucial to the overall welfare and progress of our society.

Since 2012, our Back to School for Mandela Day initiative has mobilised corporate partners to return to schools and dedicate

67 minutes to meaningful volunteerism. These initiatives are aligned with the Foundation’s Whole School Development model, which encompasses a comprehensive approach to fostering holistic and sustainable change in our schools. By focusing on key areas such as infrastructure improvement and learner support, we strive to create a nurturing educational ecosystem that equips learners for future success.

The Foundation calls upon corporates to partner with the Foundation and create a conducive teaching and learning environment at a school in Soweto.

The corporate package costs R35 000.00 for a maximum number of ten people.

7. The United Nations

On 18 July, the United Nations will once again honour Nelson Mandela’s legacy with a special commemoration in the General Assembly Hall and a service project.

The 2025 theme for Mandela Day is “It’s still in our hands to combat poverty and inequity”.

This year, the General Assembly event will include the awarding of the 2025 UN Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela Prize to Brenda Reynolds, a Salteaux woman from Canada supporting the health and wellbeing of Indigenous communities, and Kennedy Odede, who grew up in the Kibera slum and founded SHOFCO – Shining Hope for Communities – aiming to combat poverty and gender inequality.

Secretary-General António Guterres and President of the General Assembly Philemon Yang will award the prizes in a webcast event on 18 July starting at 10 AM ET.

#ItsInYourHands

Sources: Mandela Day | Nelson Mandela Foundation | Adopt-a-School Foundation- United Nationa | FSACCI | Rise Against Hunger