Mandela Day 2025 was marked by a strong sense of commitment from both the Mbombela and Siyabuswa campuses, as volunteers took part in a range of meaningful outreach initiatives aimed at meeting community needs and honouring Nelson Mandela's enduring legacy of justice, equality, and human dignity.
UMP volunteers provided career guidance to out-of-school youth, donated sanitary towels, and helped establish food gardens planted with beetroot, spinach, cabbage, and fruit trees at the Knowledge of Success Sinqobile Youth Information Centre in Verulam.
At the Verulam Drop-in Centre, which supports more than 57 vulnerable children who rely on it for daily meals, staff and students donated knitted items, toiletries, seedlings, and sanitary towels, while also planting a food garden and fruit trees.
In Sheba Village, UMP visited the Sandla Semusa Multipurpose Centre, which supports over 200 adults aged 19 to 59. The centre received donations of paint, clothing, hygiene products, sanitary pads, and cleaning supplies.
UMP staff and students spent 67 minutes of Mandela Day engaged in community service.
Ms Cebisele Ndwandwe, a board member and representative of the Sandla Semusa Centre, expressed deep gratitude: "This is the first time the centre has received such a visit, and I am truly grateful to the University of Mpumalanga. Most importantly, I am thankful for the donations, which will make a significant difference in the lives of our beneficiaries. May God bless you, and may this not be the last time you visit us. Thank you."
At the Sizanani Multipurpose Centre in Bronkhorstspruit, children took part in storytelling, reading, arts and crafts, outdoor play, music, and dance. Volunteers also cleaned the facility and donated sanitary towels and dolls.
In Siyabuswa, UMP teams undertook a clean-up at Valfontein Clinic, promoting a healthier environment through rubbish collection and facility maintenance. At Mareleng Primary School, also in Siyabuswa, volunteers cleaned the schoolyard, removed waste, and cut grass to create a safer and more welcoming space for learners. These combined efforts exemplify UMP's ongoing dedication to community engagement, development, and transformation.
Mandela Day 2025 was not just a day of service: it was a reaffirmation of UMP's values of collaboration and inspiration – and its commitment to shaping a better future for all. As we reflect on the legacy of Nelson Mandela, we are reminded that each act of kindness – no matter how small – can contribute to meaningful change.
Story and Pictures supplied.