Covid-19 has deepened patterns of poverty and inequality. The numbers of people going hungry are growing. Social cohesion is under severe strain. Evidence of diminishing respect for ‘the rule of law’ is apparent everywhere.
Several questions and lines of enquiry press for attention. What does ‘the rule of law’ mean for those who are starving? What does it mean to someone unable to put food on the family table due to the failures of societal systems and structures? What is the basis for social bonding in contexts where constitutions and laws do not match the lived reality of the great majority? Is the achievement of food security for all imaginable without the rule of law?
Mandela Day 2021
The Nelson Mandela Foundation is inviting everyone to join on 18 July as we honour Madiba’s birthday by contributing to meeting the immediate needs of the most vulnerable communities.
While the Mandela Day call to action remains a general call to reach out to those in need, this year, the focus will be on the challenge of food security. Before Covid-19, the statistics showed us that one in four six-year-olds in South Africa suffered from stunting due to malnutrition.
The ravages of the pandemic will surely worsen this devastating reality. By harnessing our Each1Feed1 programme to Mandela Day and developing the 4Cans4MandelaDay campaign, the aim is to ensure that basic foodstuffs reach the most vulnerable communities this July.
In the longer term, the foundation is committed to using the research and advocacy capacity to address the systemic issues which cause food insecurity in our country. It is believed that getting this right is fundamental to social cohesion and respect for the rule of law.
Each 1 Feed 1
On Mandela Day, this year, the Nelson Mandela Foundation will be at the Ikageng Itereleng Aids Ministry, a social welfare centre in Soweto, Johannesburg for another Each 1 Feed 1 distribution.
Each 1 Feed 1 is a food distribution network championed by the Nelson Mandela Foundation that was started at the beginning of the lockdown to support families who have been worst affected by the challenge of food insecurity.
Beneficiaries have included child-headed households, orphaned families, the elderly, people who are informally employed in the ECD workforce as well as people living with disabilities. The food pack has historically been robust and nutritious, capable of supporting a family of five for at least a month.
The public is encouraged to emulate the campaign in their own ways to ensure that everyone has access to food this Mandela Day. Otherwise, the public is invited to donate to the campaign via GivenGain platform or by contributing to the Each 1 Feed 1 #4Cans4MandelaDay call to action.
#4Cans4Mandela Day
Over Mandela Month, July 2021, the public is encouraged to contribute to the Each 1 Feed 1 food distribution network by donating non-perishable food items at all participating malls for Mandela Day. All participating malls will have clearly marked signage and a Mandela Day representative at the collection point where people can drop off their donations. These will be supplied to the Each 1 Feed 1 food network for donation at our next distribution.
Mandela Day ForGood Network
Lastly, the public is encouraged to register on the Mandela Day Global Network on ForGood platform. Here, you will find pre-vetted NGOs looking for volunteers this Mandela Month to safely donate time, skills, and resources.
The ForGood platform is also an excellent portal to find ‘microvolunteering’ opportunities from the convenience and safety of home.
To stay informed, subscribe to newsletter from nelsonmandela.org or follow on Twitter @nelsonmandela to join the conversation using the hashtags below.
#MandelaDay2021
#Each1Feed1
#4Cans4Mandela
