Every year, on 18 July, South Africans are encouraged to spend 67 minutes of their time to volunteer their services for social and charitable projects. This is to acknowledge the life of the late SA president, Nelson Mandela, whose life was dedicated to the freedom struggle in South Africa. South Africans are asked to involve themselves in local and national projects aimed at uplifting communities with the aim of making a difference. The call to ‘take action, inspire change and to make everyday a Mandela Day’ resonates strongly with the values of BAPS Charities. BAPS Charities volunteers in Durban, responded to this call by spending time entertaining children at the King George Hospital in Durban.
The hospital is a local government hospital and has recently been upgraded with wards for infants. In total there are over 60 children in these wards,some spending as long as 8 months in care. About 10 volunteers spent the day bringing a smile to the children’s faces by conducting face painting activities and handing out gift bags consisting of face towels, toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, sweets, fruit and a board game. The children expressed their happiness and the hospital staff thanked the volunteers for their efforts to bringing joy to the faces of the children.
