From Mandela Day to Mandela Month
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This year, Mandela Day became something much bigger than a single day of service. The Kariega Foundation team along with several partners celebrated our community. What started as a community initiative on Saturday, 18 July 2026, continued for several days as donations kept arriving and more families were identified for support. By the end of the initiative, 50 families and more than 400 people had been reached across five communities.
It became our Mandela Month, a reminder of what can happen when people work together with kindness and purpose.
A beautiful day to serve
The Kariega Foundation community team was joined by community volunteers, Kenton Rotary Club, Kenton Cares, the Kenton Tourism Office team, Calvin the carpenter and children from our Environmental Education programme.
Ten elderly residents and their families were identified for support, with five households receiving more extensive assistance on the day. Homes were spring cleaned, furniture was repaired, curtains were hung, beds were assembled and fresh bedding was added. Families also received carpets, cutlery, toiletries, clothing, shoes and other household essentials.
Supporting families with dignity
Each family received a food parcel containing basic groceries such as rice, maize meal, sugar, samp, cooking oil, tea, beans, pilchards, pasta, milk and fresh vegetables. The aim was not simply to deliver donations, but to help create cleaner, safer and more comfortable homes.
Bringing the gardens back to life
The work continued outside the homes. Teams cleaned the yards, removed weeds and prepared vegetable gardens for planting. Donated seeds and seedlings were planted so that families could continue growing fresh vegetables after the event. The gardens became one of the happiest parts of the day, especially for the children from our Environmental Education programme.
Thank you to our supporters
The generosity of the community exceeded all expectations. The remaining donations were used to prepare food and clothing parcels for another 40 families. Together, the initiative reached more than 400 adults and children. That is how our Mandela Day became Mandela Month.
This initiative was made possible by an incredible network of donors, partners and volunteers.
- Kariega Game Reserve donated bed sets, bedding and towels.
- The Kariega Conservation Centre donated furniture, carpets, clothing, shoes and seedlings.
- Kenton Rotary Club contributed food and clothing, while Pam Golding donated R1 200 towards groceries.
- Round Table collected a bakkie full of food and six bags of clothing outside Sunshine Spar.
- Port Alfred Rotary Club donated samp and beans, while Coastal Kindness contributed clothing.
Thank you also to Kenton Cares, Kenton Tourism, our community volunteers, the Youth Development team, Calvin the carpenter, and everyone who provided transport, time and practical support. Most importantly, thank you to every family who welcomed our teams into their homes.
Ubuntu in action
Mandela Month was about people showing up for one another. It was children planting vegetables, volunteers cleaning homes, a carpenter repairing furniture, and local organisations giving food, clothing, transport and time. Each person offered what they could, and together those contributions made a meaningful difference.
This is Ubuntu in action and a true reflection of the Kariega Foundation’s commitment to conservation through community.
Get involved
You can help us continue supporting families in the communities surrounding Kariega. Donations of food, clothing, bedding, household items, seedlings or financial support can make a real difference.
To donate or learn more about our community programmes, please contact the Kariega Foundation or visit our website.
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