The 2024 effort aimed to break its UBUNTU world record for 'the largest number of volunteers paying to spend 67 minutes on Mandela Day in service to grow children in need'.

The NPO doubled the previous year's number with 12 267 volunteers participating worldwide. The organisation says that last year it involved 6 003 volunteers. 

Endorsed by the Nelson Mandela Foundation, Ladles of Love required volunteers to purchase tickets through Webtickets.co.za, marking the first step in raising funds for the organisation. Each ticket sold ensures 40 healthy meals for children in need and grants volunteers access to the events, says the organisation. 

According to Ladles of Love, events were held in:

  • Johannesburg
  • Cape Town
  • Tshwane, or
  • volunteers had the ability to fulfil their own activities anywhere in the country.

Volunteers spent 67 minutes making, creating, crafting, or packing items to help children in the Early Childhood Development (ECD) phase grow a healthier and more sustainable future, says the NPO. Those who aimed to enhance the lives of others through acts of kindness joined the Ladles of Love mission, purchasing tickets, booking slots and choosing preferred activities.

Ladles of Love says that activities included:

  • making sandwiches
  • filling Jars of Hope
  • packing food parcels
  • crafting Squish for Love dolls
  • colouring posters, and
  • making mini edible gardens. 

Ladles of Love founder Danny Diliberto says, "It is heart-warming to see the record number of volunteers who not only participated in scheduled events in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Tshwane but heeded the call from across the globe. No matter where volunteers came from, they bought tickets and spent physical time creating ways in which children from impoverished communities within the ECD phase of development would benefit."

"We are so grateful to all our volunteers as well as for the incredible work of Ladles of Love, this month celebrating its 10-year anniversary, and we look forward to our organisation and its international web of support growing from strength to strength to ensure brighter futures for our children. It is this kind of love activism and acts of kindness that are so needed in these times and offer a brighter future for our children," adds Diliberto. 

The organisation says that all efforts and funds raised will go toward providing nutrition for children in the ECD phase within impoverished communities, giving them access to the nutrition and amenities they need to grow. The organisation's ambitious goal is to raise R5 million to nourish over 5 500 children within the ECD phase in impoverished communities.

Ladles of Love concludes that their sponsors include:

  • Inspire Furniture Rentals
  • V&A Waterfront
  • AGT
  • Rhodes Quality Blue Ribbon
  • Anchor Yeast
  • SNOWFLAKE, and
  • T3 Plastics.

For more information, visit www.LadlesofLove.org.za. You can also follow Ladles of Love on Facebook, X, or on Instagram. 

*Image courtesy of contributor