Purpose of the program
The program was initiated in honor of the late Tata Nelson Rolihlala Mandela International Day Campaign which aims at working with communities to celebrate his birthday by doing good in society. This year’s focus was to dismantle poverty and inequality by acting against climate change and creating resilient food environments. It is against this backdrop that the Department of Social Development’s Special Programmes Unit visited the Settlers Day hospital to improve the livelihoods of those identified vulnerable – specifically the blind and visually impaired.
Stakeholders
The stakeholders who participated in the event consisted of Old mutual, the Department of health, the Department of Sport Recreation, Arts and Culture (DSRAC), the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA), the South African Library for the Blind, Amazwi South Africa Museum of Literature, the Makana Local Municipality as well as the Sarah Baartman District Municipality.
Events of the day
The program started with a political briefing at the District Office Board Room at 09h00. It proceeded with “service on wheels” which was held at Settlers Day Hospital at 10h00. There were 20 sanitary packs, 15 hygiene packs and 35 blankets that were donated and delivered on site. SASSA provided services for the people with disability to apply for grant-in-aid, disability grants and other social grants needed. They also committed themselves to pilot the voucher system for food parcels for the beneficiaries. SASSA also committed to assist them with computers and office equipment.
The Department of Health provided primary health care services and donated a wheelchair to one person who was indeed of it. The SA library for the blind promoted their services to provide audiobooks and braille books. Amazwi promoted their story telling services. Two classics were presented, namely, Buzani ku bawo and The warth of ancestors.
For the 67 minutes, those participating in the event were divided into two groups. The first group, principally Kingswood College learners, did a garden for the organization’s soup kitchen. The gardening equipment was provided by Department of Rural Development and Agrarian Reform (DRDAR). The other group prepared lunch where soup and bread were served. The event conscientized all participants and the general public to live lives in line with Tata Mandela’s principles and values – every day should indeed be a Mandela Day.
A big thank you to the organizers, the participants, stakeholders, sponsors and donors that made the event a success!