Latest news with #LadlesofLove
IOL News
3 days ago
- Business
- IOL News
Cape Town volunteers embody Mandela Day spirit at Ladles of Love
Volunteers from various companies unite at the DHL Stadium in Cape Town to celebrate Mandela Day and support Ladles of Love's mission to alleviate hunger. Image: Henk Kruger/Independent Newspapers The DHL Stadium in Cape Town was transformed into a hub of goodwill as the world celebrated Mandela Day. Hundreds of volunteers from across the Mother City braved the cold, and came together for Ladles of Love's annual flagship event. Employees from a diverse range of companies, including Inspire Rentals, DHL Stadium, Kyalami Grand Race Circuit, AGT Foods, Rhodes Food Group, Wimpy, Deloitte, Takealot Group, FPG Group, Independent Media, and Premier Fishing, to name but a few, participated in a day of service. From packing sandwiches, assembling food buckets and creating learning materials for children, the teams contributed to Ladles of Love's mission to alleviate hunger and uplift communities. Volunteers gather at DHL Stadium for Mandela Day, supporting Ladles of Love's mission. Image: Henk Kruger/Independent Newspapers Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad Loading Under the Mandela Day theme 'It's In Your Hands', the event highlighted the values of ubuntu and collective action. A spokesperson from Premier Fishing said, 'This day is not about individual recognition, but about what we can achieve together as a society when we put compassion into action.' Chantel Zvichauya, who volunteered on behalf of Premier Fishing, added, 'It was a privilege to contribute even in a small way. to such a meaningful cause. There's a real sense of unity when people from all walks of life come together to give back. That's what Mandela Day is all about.' Since March 2020, Ladles of Love has provided over 48 million meals, with events like this amplifying their reach and impact. Their Mandela Day activations in Cape Town and Johannesburg offer a way for individuals and businesses to live out Madiba's legacy, not just through donations, but through hands-on participation. The event was a reminder that real change happens when people and organisations work side by side to uplift others, honouring the legacy of Nelson Mandela through action. Get your news on the go, click here to join the Cape Argus News WhatsApp channel. Cape Argus
Eyewitness News
5 days ago
- General
- Eyewitness News
67 minutes of Mandela Day spent making lives a little better
CAPE TOWN - Thousands of South Africans gave 67 minutes of their time to do good on Friday. Volunteers from non-profit organisation, Ladles of Love spent Mandela Day making sandwiches for underprivileged members of society, at Cape Town Stadium. EWN spoke to some volunteers who shared what Mandela Day means to them.
IOL News
6 days ago
- General
- IOL News
Ladles of Love fills stadium on Mandela Day with unity, art, and compassion
Danny Diliberto and Hans Bruechle Image: Tracy-Lynn Ruiters The Cape Town Stadium was the place to be on Mandela Day, as Ladles of Love hosted its biggest celebration of compassion and service yet. In a powerful show of unity, the non-profit held simultaneous events at the stadium and at the Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit in Johannesburg. These gatherings went beyond simply ticking off community service hours. They were vibrant celebrations of purpose and compassion, bringing together scholars, families, and community members for hands-on activities that nourished preschool children and fought child food poverty. Danny Diliberto, founder of Ladles of Love, smiled from ear to ear as scores of people from all ages, genders, and races walked into the stadium, full of excitement. Team work made the dream work Image: Tracy-Lynn Ruiters Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading 'I remember our first Mandela Day. I had a vision to feed 600 people, now we are hosting a Mandela Day event in a stadium! 'Operating from a place of kindness, and giving just because you can, man ... that feeling, and the smiles and hugs, you cannot describe it. When you see everyone together there is no race, no gender, no religion, no age, and they are all coming together to do good.' This year, the NPO partnered with acclaimed Australian street artist Hans Bruechle also known as Handbrake to deliver an inspiring and interactive art installation. Everyone was all smiles Image: Tracy-Lynn Ruiters Alex du Plessis,12, Clara Goossens, 5, and Henri Goossens, 12, all dedicated their time to Mandela Day Image: Tracy-Lynn Ruiters Bruechle, who could be seen bouncing around with such joyful energy, said: 'The overwhelming positivity, wow, the millions of smiles coming in here, there is an energy here that I didnt experience in Australia. 'Every country should experience Mandela Day in their own way! Just do a little bit more for someone else, you'll be astounded by the difference it can make.' DHL Stadium CEO Gina Woodburn said: 'For us, if we have a few days open and we can make the stadium available for initiative like this, then it's amazing. The setting makes a perfect environment for an event of this nature. 'It also lets people see a different side of the stadium, parts that are generally used for sports teams. 'I also think it's fantastic to see the stadium light up like this, with people and the youth willing to offer up their time to give support and hope to the many communities.' Beneficiary Bulelwa Vangqa, principal of Delft Kids Ministry Educare, was overwhelmed with emotion: 'This time around it's all about children. Especially in our country where our kids' rights are being neglected, children are in need in our communities, we are fighting that kids need to be in school, for a cooked meal, it motivates them to come to school, that is why we appreciate what Ladles of Love are doing. 'I believe that a child cannot learn with an empty stomach and to see that there are so many people who are coming out to make sure they are fed, it's like witnessing something out of another dimension. Right now, we are seeing the Bible in action. May God continue to pour out the blessings on Danny and his team.' Volunteer Mary Ebako, 17, Cape Town, said: 'I feel like I am doing something right, giving back to the community is always my family's motto. The things we do, I've been taught this my entire life. I feel happy to be volunteering.' Weekend Argus
IOL News
15-07-2025
- General
- IOL News
Mandela Day should be about how we show up daily, not just on July 18
In the spirit of ubuntu, Ladles of Love has called on businesses and South Africans everywhere to put compassion in action, this Mandela Day on Friday. The the premise of Mandela Day is simple, yet profound: each of us has the ability, and responsibility to make the world better from wherever we are, says the writer. Image: SUPPLIED Smangaliso Mbili IN A world fractured by polarised politics, deepening inequality, climate disruption and rising violence, Nelson Mandela International Day (Mandela Day) offers more than just an ideal, it offers a necessary recalibration. It reminds us that our humanity is intertwined, that no one thrives in isolation, and that justice, care and mutual dignity must be the foundation of our collective response. It invites us not to ignore the complexity of these poly-crises, but to meet them differently. With humility. With solidarity. With the unwavering belief that I am because you are, that what we do for one, we do for all. I have had the privilege of being part of intentional communities that ground themselves in the values Madiba lived by - values that speak to justice, dignity, service, and ubuntu…our shared humanity. Though he held many roles in his lifetime, Madiba's life was ultimately a testament to his unwavering commitment to dismantling systems of oppression, building bridges across divides, and restoring the humanity of those written out of power and opportunity. Because of this, my interpretation of Mandela Day is anchored in the values he embodied in his service to humanity and the enduring invitation he left with us: 'It is in your hands'. To me, Mandela Day is an annual invitation to pause with intention and magnify service in practice, especially for those most vulnerable and underserved. It is a global moment where I can join millions of people around the globe, to amplify acts of care and solidarity for at least 67 minutes. Acts that restore dignity, affirm humanity, and uphold freedom for all using whatever instrument is within reach. Personally, the magic of this day is found in human connection: in serving and being served, in the sacred bond created when we move towards the needs of others. Yes, I can donate to a cause. But there is something magical and irreplaceable in physically showing up, shoulder to shoulder, in service. I think the premise of Mandela Day is simple, yet profound: each of us has the ability, and responsibility to make the world better from wherever we are. For South Africa, I believe that this culture of service could stretch beyond July 18. It could live in how we lead our daily lives. Yes, we pause everything for one day to serve others, but we could also find ways to embed these values in our rhythms and relationships. Growing up in Soweto, where the neighbour was my keeper and my mother's substitute when she was at work, I say this not to encourage us to start something new, but to continue. To return, if we've deviated. It has always and will always take a village. You might ask, what does an abiding practice of Mandela Day actually look like? It could be greeting the cleaner or security by name, not out of politeness, but out of recognition. Sawubona! Maybe it's mentoring a young person in your circle and checking in consistently. Maybe it's listening, I mean really listening to someone whose voice often goes unheard. It might show up in how we use our voice in meetings to create space for others. In how we challenge injustice in small rooms, long before the big platforms. In how we reimagine care, in our homes, our workplaces, our policies. It lives in the mundane. The relational. The habitual. The decision to see and serve others not just once a year, but every day. And I think it can only be from here, from these small, consistent acts can we begin to see Mandela Day manifest in the ways we want to see the world become, more just, more humane, more worth belonging to. As a Mandela Rhodes Scholar, one of the most enduring lessons from my year in residence was around reconciliation, the dance of navigating complexity, of holding both the light and the shadow. As a young thinker working in long-term systems change, I know the importance of holding complexity, working with patience, and orienting toward structural shifts. That is important, necessary work. But alongside it, we must allow ourselves to find and create moments that expand and enhance our human experience. Moments that let us laugh, connect, dance, breathe. Practising the values of Mandela Day doesn't always look like advocacy or reform. Sometimes it looks like joy. Sometimes it looks like play. Sometimes it looks like choosing community over isolation. And in a country like ours, we need both, I think, the rigour of long-term change and the nourishment of being fully, beautifully human. While there's no doubt that South Africa faces wicked challenges, from deepening inequality to fractured systems, the spirit of Mandela Day reminds us that the work of justice lives not only in grand reforms, but in how we show up, day by day. There is room to practise these values in spaces that may not be about systemic change, but which profoundly shape the texture of daily life. Whether it's in how we greet, include, mentor, or care, these acts, however small, are not insignificant. They are acts of solidarity. Of presence. Of choosing humanity over indifference. Perhaps this, too, is a form of reconciliation, not the kind that denies injustice, but the kind that holds its weight honestly, while still choosing to act with hope. It recognises that systemic shifts are needed, but that small, luminous acts allow us to live the values of Mandela Day in the now, and not just in the not-yet. So wherever you find yourself today, at home, at work, in a taxi, or at a school gate let this be your invitation: Start where you are. Use what you have. Serve who you can. Because Mandela Day is not just about what we do on the 18 July it is about how we choose to show up in the days that follow. May we choose humanity, again and again. Asante sana. Mbili is a Master of Development Policy and Practice student from the University of Cape Town's Nelson Mandela School of Public Governance. CAPE TIMES
IOL News
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- IOL News
Join Ladles of Love this Mandela Day: a call to action for South Africa's youth
As the school holidays draw to a close, while many teens are still tucked behind screens or deep into gaming marathons, Ladles of Love is urging South Africa's youth to do something different this Mandela Day: 'Log off your games and social feeds, and show up to help your country.' The call is clear. This Mandela Day, on 18 July, young people are invited to step into Nelson Mandela's powerful legacy by giving their time to help small children in need. Ladles of Love is pulling out all the stops this year with two large-scale volunteer events hosted at DHL Stadium in Cape Town and Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit in Johannesburg. These gatherings aren't just about ticking off community service hours. They're about showing young people that their time matters and that giving back is something to be proud of. Parents are encouraged to get involved too and to guide their children toward something meaningful and hands-on. 'Calling all parents and scholars who are looking for somewhere, and something meaningful to do for your 'Community Service' come and join us at our Mandela Day Events. You can do 8 hours of official volunteering with us and have fun doing good for good.'
