Sharon Williams, director of marketing and development at the school, says, "Our children benefit from a high level of engagement and we encourage the community to participate in their development."
Williams suggests that volunteers find easy and inexpensive ways to honour Mandela's 67 years of service. "You can read to the remedial class for 67 minutes or donate 67 pens or pencils. It can be simple."
Other ways in which volunteers can contribute include:
• Donating R67 towards a child's education;
• Donating 67 meals for children at the school - many of the children receive their only balanced meal of the day at the school;
• Donate 67 minutes of your time to playing with the children or assisting with other activities;
• Donate 67 art materials;
• Donate 67 skipping ropes, balls, or other toys/ sporting equipment;
• Donate 67 toothbrushes - the smaller children are assisted with personal hygiene at the school;
• Ask 67 friends each to donate a book to the library;
• Donate 67 pairs of socks or shoes;
• Get 67 people together to knit squares - and provide blankets for families in the winter months.
Williams points out that every cent goes directly towards helping the school's beneficiaries. "We have nearly 800 people to help and our school's philosophy is about paying it forward. So every bit of help we receive, we try to multiply, so that it touches as many lives as possible."
The school has a service learning programme in place, where learners of all ages assist surrounding communities, while the Graduates Give Back Programme encourages graduates to return to volunteer at the school for the next generation of learners.
It has a high pass rate and its students typically go on to achieve great successes, even though each lives below the poverty line - one of the previous top achievers in Matric, for example, had lived much of her life out of a shopping trolley. Many of the students are the first in their families to achieve literacy.
"It's all about promoting a culture of giving. We don't only want to teach our children how to receive. We want to teach them a basic ethic of making the world a better place. However, in order to do that, we need the community to get involved with us as well.
"Mandela Day is an ideal opportunity to do this and we appreciate every bit of help we get," concludes Williams. Contact the school on +27 (0) 21 704 9400.
