MANDELA MONTH 2026: Volunteering ideas for your employees
Nelson Mandela once said, “There can be no greater gift than that of giving one’s time and energy to help others without expecting anything in return.”
This July, we invite you to turn these words into action by taking part in one of these event ideas.
GBV HYGIENE PACKS FOR BOYS & MEN
Access to basic hygiene is often overlooked for boys and men, yet it plays a critical role in dignity, self-worth and behaviour.
This activation combines a clothing drive with the packing of GBV-focused hygiene kits for boys and men: 1 in 8 men experience GBV.
In the lead-up to Mandela Day, employees contribute by donating clothing for boys and men. Event Day
Employees sort and pair clothing into complete outfits.
Clothing is packed with hygiene essentials into individual kits.
Employees include a personal message, adding a layer of care and encouragement.
The experience can include a short engagement on how dignity, care and positive role modelling contribute to GBV prevention, connecting the activity to a broader social impact.
SENSORY BOARDS
Some children, particularly those with autism, face challenges with sensory processing, impacting their learning and interaction. Sensory play supports the development of motor skills, cognitive abilities and emotional regulation.
This activation focuses on creating sensory boards in simple shapes, encouraging both play and early learning.
Employees will create these boards using textured materials designed to support therapeutic needs, making learning more engaging and accessible.
NO SEW BLANKETS
With Nelson Mandela Month falling in the middle of winter, the need for warmth becomes even more urgent for orphanages, trauma centres and children’s homes.
This activation brings employees together to create no-sew fleece blankets that are durable, cosy and comforting, perfect for babies and children in need.
Facilitated on-site at your offices, employees will work in teams to assemble the blankets, guided step-by-step through the process.
Once completed, the blankets are distributed to Causes, extending warmth, care and comfort to those who need it most.
PENCIL CASE CREATION & EXAM KITS
Many matriculants face exam periods without access to basic stationery, impacting both confidence and performance.
This activation supports learners through the creation of pencil cases and the packing of stationery kits, equipping them with the essentials needed during a critical time.
Facilitated on-site at your offices, employees will create pencil cases from scratch using materials and glue guns. Pencil cases are overlocked on-site by a Cause partner using sewing machines to ensure durability.
Employees pack the pencil cases with stationery items into exam-ready kits.
Completed items are distributed to matric learners, supporting learners while providing income opportunities and skills development for women.
BIG BLUE LIBRARY BUS
In South Africa, nearly 8 in 10 Grade 4 learners cannot read for meaning, and many communities lack access to functional libraries.
This activation brings books and the joy of reading directly to where it’s needed most.
On-site at your offices, employees will:
- Design educational bookmarks
- Cover and protect books
- Catalogue and shelve materials
- Donate books
The library bus can also visit your offices as an interactive showcase. A small number of employees can assist with shelving and organising books inside the bus.
There’s something powerful about a bus full of books arriving where no library has ever existed and your team helps make it happen.
ANIMAL FARMS
Many schools lack the green spaces and resources needed to teach learners where food actually comes from or to feed them when it matters most.
Employees will paint and plant pallet gardens shaped like animals in bright, playful designs. Facilitated by a Cause partner to ensure the right techniques are used, vegetables will be planted in each garden.
To make the impact last, grounds men/caretakers are empowered with the knowledge and skills to maintain the gardens. This ensures the installations continue to nourish learners, nurture environmental awareness and support hands-on food education for years to come.
LIBRARY BOOKNESTS
In many schools, a small central library serves hundreds or thousands of children. Books are locked away, limited in number, and difficult to borrow regularly.
Library Nests are colorful, small, easy-to-access book units placed directly in each classroom or grade building, filled with books tailored to the learners’ age and reading level.
They’re designed as nests: safe, inviting spaces that nurture a love for reading while making books visible, reachable, and part of daily life.
Employee will assemble and paint the nests with bright designs, animals, numbers, and letters to inspire reading curiosity.
JARS OF HOPE
Jars of Hope - a simple yet effective solution for families facing food scarcity.
Employees will fill each jar with dry, non-perishable ingredients like rice, lentils, soup mix, and stock cubes, which can easily be cooked into a meal.
Employees will also write notes with messages of hope and encouragement for the jar recipients.
The jars are easy to prepare and distribute, making them accessible to those with limited cooking resources. 1 Jar = meal for 4 people.
For more information and to discuss how these concepts can be adapted to your employees, email contact@forgood.co.za.
