Menlyn Maine launches Gallery of Giving for Mandela month
Thursday 9 July saw the official opening of The Gallery of Giving with a gathering on the Piazza at Menlyn Main. Sponsors, partners and members of the diplomatic community gathered to enjoy the late afternoon sunshine and listen to remarks from Brendan Grealy, head of the executive committee of 67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela Day.
'At 67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela Day, our motto is 'Every day is a Mandela Day'. Events like The Gallery of Giving support this philosophy and encourage us all to keep doing our bit,' he said.
Mandela Day on 18 July inspires South Africans to reflect on Nelson Mandela's legacy and make a positive contribution.
'July is a month to honour Madiba's courage and compassion,' said Natasha Koning, centre manager for Menlyn Maine Central Square.
Hosted at Central Square, the Gallery of Giving features handmade blankets by 67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela Day volunteers and more than 30 Mandela-inspired artworks from a private collection.
'The Gallery of Giving combines fine art and outstanding handicraft skills of our amazing volunteers,' added Grealy
Mini Menlyn stepped up to support The Gallery of Giving with a substantial donation of wool, which will enable the creation of more blankets.
Richard Nwamba, dealer principal at Mini Menlyn, said: 'We jumped at the chance to support The Gallery of Giving and hope that the specially branded Mini will encourage patrons to get behind the call for wool donations to support the ongoing efforts of 67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela Day.'
Rael Demby, chief executive of The Scoin Shop said: 'The Gallery of Giving is about weaving generosity into our community's fabric. We have been linked to 67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela Day since it started in 2014. Carolyn Steyn invited us to get involved, and we've been behind this wonderful initiative ever since.'
This year, everyone is invited to visit the Gallery of Giving and join in making a difference this Mandela month. The gallery of Giving opens to the public on Friday, July 4th. Visitors can see the exhibition at the gallery until 31 July.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Herald
3 hours ago
- The Herald
‘Doc in the Bay' empowering emerging filmmakers
A group of 15 aspiring filmmakers from the Eastern Cape are being given the opportunity to sharpen their skills and bring their stories to life, thanks to an intensive documentary training initiative under way in Gqeberha. Now in its second year, the Doc in the Bay programme is equipping participants with the tools and hands-on experience needed to produce short-form documentaries of broadcast quality. Running from late June until July 25, the programme blends theory with practical application — guiding emerging talent through every step of the filmmaking process, from concept development to post-production. Project manager Warda Mallick said the programme served a critical need within local communities by empowering storytellers to share authentic narratives rooted in the region's diverse cultural and social fabric. 'An initiative like this fills a vital gap in our communities, enabling local voices to create and share authentic content which showcases our unique stories and perspectives,' Mallick said. 'Participants will receive remuneration for their time and also gain the skills and knowledge needed to raise funds and monetise their work.' Training is delivered by a panel of respected industry professionals, including national and international producers. Online masterclasses cover key aspects of the craft, with participants also working towards an NQF Level 5 accredited qualification in producer unit standards. The programme forms part of the National Film and Video Foundation's Presidential Employment Stimulus Programme and has already made an economic impact by creating work opportunities for about 50 individuals and businesses in the film sector. Clayton Thom of Shoot97 Productions, one of the partners involved, emphasised the long-term value of the programme. 'By developing producers and crew to broadcast standards, the programme addresses a crucial gap in the local film industry,' he said. 'It empowers filmmakers to secure funding, produce high-quality content and monetise their work — ultimately driving industry growth and job creation.' The programme will culminate in a celebratory screening and awards event, where the finished films will be showcased — marking not only the end of training, but the beginning of a new chapter for Gqeberha's emerging film voices. The Herald
The Herald
2 days ago
- The Herald
Gabriela Bryan and Connor O'Leary win Corona Cero Open J-Bay
'I don't have any words,' said O'Leary. 'I'm just so happy with how I performed today. "[Richard] 'Dog' Marsh has been telling me that it's coming this year, but it's been hard to believe sometimes. All the stars aligned for this one, so I'm stoked. It felt good to have so many people cheering for me, and then to perform for them. 'I intended to do some of the best backhand surfing you've ever seen, and to compete with a fellow goofy in the Final, hopefully it inspires other goofy-foot surfers that they can compete against the best in perfect right-hand point breaks.' O'Leary took the win over Yago Dora (BRA) in an all-goofy-foot battle at Supertubes. O'Leary's flawless backhand attack saw him earn the event's only 10-point ride (out of a possible 10) to knock out three-time J-Bay winner Filipe Toledo (BRA) in an exhilarating semifinal to advance to his first final for 2025. O'Leary had a huge challenge ahead, with Dora seemingly unstoppable in J-Bay and his third final for the season. Locking into a classic leg burner, O'Leary scored an excellent 8.17 and 7.50 for a total of 15.67 (out of a possible 20) for the win. World No 2 Bryan earned her third CT win of the season and the fourth of her career in dramatic fashion, defeating world No 1 Molly Picklum (AUS) by the narrowest of margins. After an early exit at the VIVO Rio Pro, Bryan lost the Yellow Leader Jersey to Picklum and flew out to SA to reset and get in a few extra reps at Supertubes. 'I don't think it's sunk in yet,' said Bryan. 'I came here early, putting in a lot of time here, and it paid off. I'm so stoked. It's been a dream of mine to win here at J-Bay. It's an iconic wave and one of my favourites in the world. 'The Yellow Jersey comes with a lot of pressure, so I definitely had less pressure in that Final. I personally like chasing something that I want to go after. The only time I want to be wearing Yellow is the first event next year.' Bryan clinched her place in the WSL Final 5 and will compete for the World Title in the Lexus WSL Finals Fiji. — World Surf League
IOL News
3 days ago
- IOL News
Sailing towards change: Julia Jansch navigates Azile Arosi's inspiring journey in 'The Academy'
Azile Arosi's inspiring journey from Khayelitsha to the world of skipping is wonderfully captured in 'The Academy'. Image: Supplied While Mandela Month is a time for reflection, kindness and generosity, it is also a reminder to help combat poverty and inequality. And 'The Academy' on Disney+ reveals how some of the issues are being championed in pioneering ways. As part of the streaming platform's 'People & Places: Shorts' collection, it celebrates individuals who have made giant strides in their profession despite facing numerous socio-economic obstacles. Award-winning film-maker Julia Jansch. Image: Supplied Under the direction of award-winning film-maker Julia Jansch, the short feature spotlights Azile Arosi. This young woman from Khayelitsha discovers healing and purpose through sailing at The Academy, a transformative training program offered by the Royal Cape Yacht Club. In a recent chat with Jansch, she shed light on how the project came about. 'I made a movie called 'My Father the Mover', which won at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2020. And a guy called Mandilakhe Yengo was my producing partner on it. When it won at the festival, there was a big grab to acquire it. Disney was one of the companies. I spoke with Marjon Javadi, the head of documentary film and series, there. 'She said to me, 'Do you know other movers like, you know, the film was about a gqom dancer called Stoan Move Galela teaching kids how to kind of find their superpowers through gqom dance. 'Because'My Father the Mover' was very, I guess, up Disney's alley in terms of its feeling of hope and upliftment, especially during Covid, where nobody could move.' The request immediately sparked an idea Yengo had planted in her mind, mentioning his brother-in-law, Lindani Mchunu, who was at the helm of The Academy, which is a sailing institution established at the Royal Cape Yacht Club. A behind the scenes shot of the making of 'The Academy'. Image: Supplied Their specific mandate is to teach kids from previously disadvantaged backgrounds how to sail. She added: 'The Academy was a part of the Royal Cape Yacht Club's kind of larger systemic effort to transform from the inside out. 'And it's funny because when I met Lindani, he took me into the Commodore's office, and it's a great shot in the film where it's just all these old white men on the wall. And it said everything. Then he took me towards the back of the yacht club, where The Academy was. "And I went into the room and all these young sailors were playing with the rope and making knots, and they were female, they were black, and it was just a totally different face.' Arosi's story struck her as she searched for a protagonist. 'Most of the documentary work I do is social issue-related, and usually I'm looking for an individual story of transformation and transcendence, and what that comes to is figuring out the wound. 'Azile comes from a challenging socio-economic background. She's a female, which is not usual for a skipper. "But beyond all of that surface-level stuff, I was looking for something very, very deep, and having spoken to all the sailors, what I was particularly drawn to was how the sea, specifically in the ocean, had healed a very painful part of Azile and her past.' Jansch continued: 'She had a personal challenge in her early childhood development to deal with; her relationship with her mother was a painful point within her. In her coming to The Academy and learning to sail and being on a ship, she had found healing from this particular wound. "And she says this incredible line in the film, 'The sea will speak to you, but you have to understand what it says to you'.' One of the most challenging moments during the shoot was filming Azile skipping a boat around Robben Island for the first time in a race, during very gusty conditions. Overall, Jansch is proud of her undertaking with this project, and she's already busy with her next production. She shared: 'I love the glories of hope, and I love stories of faith. I love stories of people who have had to go through the fire and who come out the other end, stronger. I look for deeply psychological stories and exciting worlds. I love stories about unsung heroes and ordinary people who are doing extraordinary things. 'And stories that inspire, and I'm particularly charged by people who are seemingly unseen in our world. I would say that's my purpose and life's mission with creating a story. It's African stories for an international audience and sharing our beautiful lessons we've learned on a very kind of internal level, but also on a systemic level.' 'I've been working for the past year on a very interesting documentary, which is set in the world of car spinning. I don't want to give too much away, but it's it's got similar themes and it's a young woman's story as a world,' Jansch revealed. 'And in the same way that the sailing kind of saves Azile, spinning saves the girl. I'm very excited about it. We are in post-production in New York.'
