Mandela Day offers volunteer opportunities

"On 18 July 2010, Nelson Mandela is calling on all of us to set an example for the next generation to follow. This is a call to action! Rise up and let you deeds be seen! Let us nurture a culture of helping one another. There are millions of people in the world who need a helping hand. Show you care and do what you can to make a positive change in someone's life. Record your Nelson Mandela Day moments and upload your video clips on www.nelsonmandela.org and make every day, a Mandela Day!"

Birthday celebration concert

The Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra will join the world in wishing Madiba many happy returns during a birthday gala concert at Pretoria's State Theatre at 8pm on Friday 16 July 2010. The event also marks the launch of new opera company Opera South Africa. This new ensemble, which aims to develop operatic and choral music in South Africa, is helmed by two of Madiba's relatives - CEO Unathi Mtirara and patron Inkosi Mandla Mandela.

Support selected charity projects on Sunday, every day

Old Mutual and World for All are joining forces to encourage people from all walks of life to get involved. They are committed to making it as easy as possible for you to pledge your time, by providing access to specific volunteering projects within the Johannesburg and Cape Town regions.

In support of the Mandela Day Campaign, Old Mutual is going all out to secure 67 000 minutes of donated time from the general public which it match with 67 '000 minutes from Old Mutual staff.

The following projects have been specifically chosen from a variety of communities, focusing on environment, education, job creation, skills development and health. To get involved, volunteers can simply register and log their skills at http://do-great-things.volunteerhub.co.za/.

A project management team will allocate people according to their capabilities and the size of the project. On 18 July, volunteers will be transported to the site via coaches provided by Old Mutual World for All from a central location in each city.

Gauteng

• Boksburg Society for the aged - This organisation provides residential care for 230 elderly people. Their residents normally attend church on a Sunday, but some are happy to stay in on Mandela Day to receive volunteer guests who can spend some time reading and interacting with them. Many residents do not have relatives that visit them.
• CLAW - Community Led Animal Welfare is an animal welfare organisation recognised for their pioneering primary animal healthcare and welfare. They need some volunteers at the clinic to help them wash down the kennels and stretchers, whilst others will be shampooing and grooming the dogs.
• Ekukhanyeni Crèche one of the many organisations that the Jane Goodall Institute supports. This organisation looks after 66 children that come from a very poor environment. It is in desperate need of a fresh coat of paint and would be grateful if volunteers could come and assist them on the day.
• Roots & Shoots, a worldwide youth organisation formed by Dr. Jane Goodall to create awareness amongst youngsters on key issues such as the environment, animals and helping communities in need. This organisation runs various food gardens in the Soweto community and they need volunteers to help them clean up a food garden at one of the schools.
• Out of the Box/Alberts Farm - This non-profit organisation is geared towards skills development and job creation. They need volunteers to assist them in cleaning up a park in their neighbourhood that is in desperate need of some tender loving care.

Western Cape

Bikers ride for charity

A group of 21 motorbike riders and a support team of around 20 people left the Nelson Mandela Foundation on Tuesday 13 July on a six-day road-trip to Cape Town to spread the word about Mandela Day. Actor Morgan Freeman is participating in the event although he is not riding a bike.

The bikers, including Jack Devnarain; Jeremy Mansfield; Lehlohonolo Saint Seseli and Hanna Grobler, will also work in community projects in various towns en route as their contribution to Mandela Day.

Kaya FM general manager Greg Maloka made a pledge and challenged all other broadcasters to do the same. He said his radio station would "broadcast two messages every day for 67 years which will focus purely on Mandela." He then handed Nelson Mandela Foundation chief executive Achmat Dangor a framed broadcast schedule from 18 July 2010 to 18 July 2077.

The route is Johannesburg, Bloemfontein, Graaff Reinet, De Rust, Oudtshoorn, Barrydale, Robertson, Wellington and Cape Town via Khayelitsha.

The Nelson Mandela Foundation is making a special appeal to the country's biking community to support the Mandela Day tour by performing a good service of some kind in their own home town and local communities.

The Foundation thanks Vodacom, Absa, Spar, Square Roofing; SABC; Kaya Fm; Wimpy; ABI; Imison; Bokomo Foods; Tiger Brands; OFM; Gold-Rand Harley Davidson; BMW; Audi; Willards; Sesli Blankets; Yamaha; Outdoor Medical; Cadbury; RTT; Simba; Coca Cola; Metro Police; provincial traffic departments; SAPS; and mayors and premiers of provinces.

Cavendish Square book sale

Cavendish Square, Cape Town has initiated a programme, which offers its customers three easy ways to 'lend a hand', to the Mandela Day Campaign.

• The public are invited to devote 67 minutes of their time to clearing out their bookshelves and donating their unwanted books for the various charities participating in the annual August sale. Collection bins will be placed in the centre forecourt where people can bring books
• They are encouraged to support the Mandela Day charity book sale from 16-18 July by buying a book or two
• During the sale, the Volunteer Centre will be on hand to encourage people to sign up for an array of NGOs that need their help.

Wimpy outing for Mpumalanga orphans

MPowerFM, Wimpy and the Autotec Foundation will treat orphans from Mpumalanga to a fun-filled party at Wimpy the Grove, Riverside, Nelspruit. People and companies who would like to donate any items of food, toys or clothing to the orphans from The Autotec Foundation, can drop them off on Sunday 18 July at Wimpy, The Grove.