Mandela Day: One Day. A Lifetime Of Impact

Mandela Day: One Day. A Lifetime of Impact

Mandela Day presented South Africans with a unique opportunity. Using one day as a symbolic gesture in honour of ‘The Father of Our Nation’, we had the chance to aid systemic change effectively. 

On Friday, 18 July 2025, The Love Trust invited South Africans to give their time to support quality education and dignity for learners and our future educators. As a passionate advocate for education, Nelson Mandela once said, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” When the observance came, we used the day  as a catalyst for sustainable change and challenged all South Africans to move from moments to movements. Whether you painted a wall, hosted a workshop, or donated R67, your contribution was part of a bigger journey, a journey of hope, that supports learners from pre-primary through to high school and beyond.

Painting with purpose

At Nokuphila School in Thembisa, Midrand, our Mandela Day activities for 2025 focused on restoring and painting classrooms. While this activity might appear neither glamorous nor the most urgent, Terri-Lynn Smith, Head of Fundraising and Communication for The Love Trust, reiterates that it is deeply meaningful. She stated that the space in which students learn is important; and the Love Trust wants them to be proud of where they go to school. A freshly painted classroom is more than clean walls; it’s about dignity, care, and showing learners that their environment is worth investing in.

Skills workshops that build better futures

In the Western Cape, The Love Trust focused efforts on giving donors the chance to engage directly with teachers-in-training through a series of practical workshops. Ultimately, our hope was to raise enough funds to sponsor two students who are part of the NQF level five adult education programme. 

Instead of asking solely for monetary donations towards our adult education programme, The Love Trust hoped to engage with our partners in the Western Cape and invited them to offer whatever skills they may have to give. For example, one donor was using her photography skills to capture the spirit of Mandela Day. 

In light of the invitation to engage in skill-sharing, our students each had a work station through which visitors could move, and they explained the importance of learning through play.

The cost of changing a life

Did you know it costs approximately R43,000 per year, or R3,583 per month, to cover one child’s full educational journey at Nokuphila? This includes two meals and a snack daily, safe and reliable transport to and from school, high-quality education by passionate teachers, learning materials and access to resources like their library, technology centre, sports equipment, etc. 

If R3,583 seems like too much for one person, consider teaming up with friends, family, colleagues, or your book club. A small group effort can cover a whole month of life-changing support for one learner.