Close X
Thursday, November 28, 2024
ADVT 
International

Celebrate Mandela Day and make a difference in South Africa

Darpan News Desk, 06 Jul, 2016 01:39 PM
  • Celebrate Mandela Day and make a difference in South Africa
Every year on July 18th, thousands of people around the world answer the call to devote 67 minutes of their time to inspire change and help others on Nelson Mandela International Day. These 67 minutes represent the decades that Nelson Mandela dedicated to serving others as a human rights lawyer, a prisoner of conscience, a global peacemaker, and the first democratically elected president of South Africa. This year, international volunteer organization Projects Abroad is calling for volunteers to celebrate his legacy by aiding underprivileged communities in South Africa.
 
Since the first democratic election in 1994, South Africa has undergone rapid development and has a thriving tourism industry. Unfortunately, unemployment levels are high and the equality gap is wide. The additional support and assistance that volunteers can provide becomes critical, comments Tom Pastorius, Head of Global Recruitment for Projects Abroad.
 
"We started implementing sustainable development programs in South Africa because we saw there was a genuine need, especially in the townships. Our volunteers have done incredible work since then, from building a safe and secure day care centre for impoverished families to send their children to, to mentoring troubled youth through sports. They are going above and beyond for the South African communities they serve, and we are proud that their efforts and dedication are honoring Mandela's legacy and making a difference every day."
 
Projects Abroad has several different projects based in Cape Town that volunteers can join throughout the year:
 
Care 
Mandela once said "Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world." This is something Projects Abroad has always taken to heart at the Care Project in Cape Town, where volunteers work in kindergartens and day care centres. Each volunteer focuses on increasing literacy levels, promoting early childhood development, and offering emotional support and care, so that children are ready for school and less likely to fall behind with their development.
 
Law & Human Rights 
PAHRO, the Human Rights Office run by Projects Abroad, provides legal representation and advice for those unable to afford legal assistance and raises awareness of human rights across communities. Most of the cases that PAHRO works with involve domestic violence, labour law, and refugee rights. This is a great opportunity for volunteers to assist those who lack the resources to help themselves while learning about human rights first-hand in South Africa.
 
Building 
Providing local communities with safe spaces is the primary goal of the Building Project in Lavender Hill, Cape Town. After building a day care centre, toilets, an enclosed washing area, and a secure playground, volunteers are now working on constructing an eco-friendly community centre. In the future, Projects Abroad hopes that this centre will become a place where the community can gather and use for the arts, culture, dance, drama, sports, and more.
 
Projects in South Africa are available from as little as one week and volunteers choose their own start and end dates throughout the year. 

MORE International ARTICLES

Abdur Rehman Admits Link With Kandahar Plane Hijack Terrorists

Abdur Rehman Admits Link With Kandahar Plane Hijack Terrorists
Al-Qaeda Indian sub-continent (AQIS) operative Mohammed Abdur Rehman has admitted his links with the terrorists involved in the 1999 Kandahar plane hijack and 2002 American Centre blast incident in Kolkata, a senior police official said today.

Abdur Rehman Admits Link With Kandahar Plane Hijack Terrorists

Indian-Origin Steel Tycoon Sanjeev Gupta Hires Tata Steel Ex-Chief

Indian-Origin Steel Tycoon Sanjeev Gupta Hires Tata Steel Ex-Chief
Indian-origin businessman Sanjeev Gupta led Liberty House Group on Thursday announced the appointment of a former Tata Steel Europe senior executive as managing director of one of its steel operations.

Indian-Origin Steel Tycoon Sanjeev Gupta Hires Tata Steel Ex-Chief

Rock Fall Accident Kills Contract Worker At Canadian-Owned Mine In Mexico

Rock Fall Accident Kills Contract Worker At Canadian-Owned Mine In Mexico
VANCOUVER — A Vancouver-based mining company says a contract worker has died in an accident at one of its mining operations in Mexico.

Rock Fall Accident Kills Contract Worker At Canadian-Owned Mine In Mexico

Women Continue To Outnumber Men In Australia

Women Continue To Outnumber Men In Australia
The latest survey of Australia's population shows that women continue to outnumber men, after the female population hit 12 million for the first time this week.

Women Continue To Outnumber Men In Australia

Suspect In Killing Of UK Lawmaker To Face Trial In Autumn

LONDON — The man charged with murdering British lawmaker Jo Cox is expected to face trial in the autumn.

Suspect In Killing Of UK Lawmaker To Face Trial In Autumn

Abortion Pill Requests Spike In Zika Outbreak Countries

Abortion Pill Requests Spike In Zika Outbreak Countries
 Online requests for abortion pills spiked dramatically this year in Brazil, Ecuador and some other Latin American countries that ban abortions, an indication that women may be choosing to end pregnancies 

Abortion Pill Requests Spike In Zika Outbreak Countries