Teach children about the value of community service this Mandela Day

Mandela Day reminds us about Nelson Mandela's life's work and how we should continue his legacy through acts of kindness. People are asked to spend 67 minutes of the day helping someone else.

Helping others is the first step in making the world a better place and studies in recent years on the impacts of volunteering have shown a range of physical and psychological benefits that result from helping others. The more we give, the happier we feel. Doing good for others and the community provides a natural sense of accomplishment.

Links to the Curriculum: Life Orientation

Grade 9 - Health, social and environmental responsibility

Grade 10 -Social and environmental responsibility

The hours needed for volunteer programs differ between 10 and 100 hours a year, depending on whether a learner is in a government or private school. In order to pass matric, learners have to be able to prove they have done a minimum of 10 hours of community service. From 2019 the minimum requirement will increase from 10 to 20 hours from grade 10 to matric.

Community service hours are becoming essential for learners applying for tertiary education bursaries.

Benefits:

Helps children connect with others to improve lives and strengthen communities and gives them a sense of pride and identity. 

Children develop skills like time management; leadership; communication; organizing; PR; problem solving; professionalism; creativity; planning; training – the benefits are endless!

If you are looking for a charity, visit: www.communityhourssa.co.za where schools and learners can register and receive full reporting.

Take action, inspire change. Make every day a Mandela Day by dedicating your time and effort to improve the conditions in your communities!

"What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead." - Nelson Mandela

Watch the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZZzFyHq0L8