The Nelson Mandela Foundation supports Back to School for a Day on Mandela Day

The event, which takes place countrywide on Mandela Day, 18 July, was launched four years ago by the Adopt-a-School Foundation. The aim of Back to School for a Day is to get South Africans involved in making a meaningful difference in the country's schools and education system.

Each year corporates and citizens are invited to go back to disadvantaged schools and help improve the physical environments where children learn, grow and develop to reach their full potential.

Whether it's painting the walls, planting food gardens or fixing broken furniture - this day is about South Africans lending a hand to make a difference. Learners are also exposed to career guidance programmes, debating workshops, literacy activities and motivational talks.

The NMF's CEO, Sello Hatang, says the foundation sees enormous synergies with Adopt-a-School and feels the campaign is in line with their fundamental principles: "We are delighted to give our full backing for the first time to this wonderful movement and encourage all South Africans to rally behind this initiative as we celebrate Mandela Day on 18 July. Education has always been a cause close to Tata's heart and what better way to honour both his memory and his legacy."

As Back to School for a Day celebrates its fourth year, Adopt-a-School's chairperson, Cyril Ramaphosa, hopes its partnership with the NMF will result in more contributions being made to educating the country's future leaders: "One day of collective action can have a huge impact on our schools. It affirms the value that society places on the success of each pupil."

Back to School for a Day has inspired hundreds of corporate volunteers to share their time, skills and material resources.

Anyone who would like to be matched up with a school should go to the website www.adoptaschool.org.za/backtoschoolforaday and sign up.

You can also be part of the conversation on Twitter and Facebook by using the campaign's official hashtag #BacktoschoolAAS @AdoptaschoolSA and contribute to the improvement of our schools.

Follow Adopt a School Foundation on social media:

• Facebook - Adopt-a-School Foundation
• Twitter - @AdoptaSchoolSA