2024's official Mandela Day theme is 'It is in Your Hands' — a powerful refrain that can be found in the many speeches and actions Madiba took throughout his life, says the DO MORE FOUNDATION.

It will be embodied at the foundation's 'Mandela Day of Play' events by all those rolling up their sleeves for 67 minutes to upgrade an under-resourced ECD centre in their area. 

According to the foundation, during the month of July, volunteers from RCL FOODS, Rainbow and Vector will work at sites in seven provinces — KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape, Mpumalanga, Gauteng, North West, Free State and Western Cape — to build and upgrade areas at their chosen ECD centres.

These areas include:

  • areas for imaginative and sensory play
  • reading corners
  • sandpits
  • bike tracks, and
  • gardens. 

These infrastructure additions will not only provide the young children at these centres with more hours and different types of fun, but they will also enhance young children's early learning and development experience, says the foundation. 

The Importance of Play in a Young Child's Learning and Development

The first five years of a child's life are crucial for developing concepts, skills and attitudes that form the basis for lifelong learning. According to the foundation, play is essential in building various areas of development for young children.

These areas of development include:

  • gross motor development
  • fine and visual coordination
  • cognitive and executive functioning, and
  • social, emotional and physical skills.  

According to the ECD Census 2021 Report, free play is often limited, and materials and equipment for these activities are scarce in ECD centres, especially those that are unregistered.

Approximately 50% of the 42 420 ECD programmes assessed reported providing less than 30 minutes of free play each day. 

"Our nation's children are facing critical developmental challenges, with the Thrive by Five Index 2022 revealing that 55% of South African children aged four and five in early learning programmes are struggling to meet expected learning milestones," says Warren Farrer, CEO of the DO MORE FOUNDATION. 

"It's crucial that we emphasise the importance of learning through play, as it is fundamental to their cognitive and social development," adds Farrer. 

Collective Action Engenders Greater Social Change for More Young Children

The success of this annual nationwide project hinges on partnerships with mission-aligned organisations that understand the importance of investing in children's early years.

For Mandela Day events, in particular, the critical role these multi-sectoral collaborations have in empowering play-based learning in some of South Africa's most disadvantaged communities, says the foundation.

"The power of partnerships to achieve this impact cannot be overstated," says Iris Naidoo, partnerships lead for the DO MORE FOUNDATION.

"Partnering with businesses is essential for positively impacting the lives of young children in South Africa. Businesses hold the resources and expertise to tackle complex social issues affecting children, including poverty, education and health," adds Naidoo.

"By joining forces, businesses and organisations like the DO MORE FOUNDATION can pool their strengths, resources and networks to achieve a greater impact together than they could individually," concludes Naidoo. 

The DO MORE FOUNDATIONS's Mandela Day partners comprise: 

  • CHEP
  • Anchor Yeast
  • RCL FOODS
  • Rainbow
  • Siqalo
  • Vector
  • REMGRO
  • Riverview
  • PEPKOR Speciality
  • Tekkie Town
  • CODE
  • Refinery
  • Dunns
  • Shoe City
  • SPCC
  • Eat Fresh
  • Tsebo, and
  • DUT.

For more information, visit www.domore.org.za. You can also follow the DO MORE FOUNDATION on Facebook, LinkedIn, X, or Instagram. 

*Image courtesy of contributor