More than 300 displaced people had a memorable Mandela Day that was filled with fun, lively music and acts of kindness at the City of Johannesburg’s 03 Kotze Street Overnight shelter in Hillbrow today, 18 July 2023. The initiative, Chow4Change by the Displaced Persons Sub Unit within the Social Development Department of the City of Johannesburg in collaboration with New Acropolis South Africa put smiles on the faces of the underprivileged.
The Chow4Change is a service delivery, awareness creation and a social inclusion concept that seeks to restore the dignity of displaced people and communicate their plight to the greater society who have no idea or limited knowledge about their plight.
Displaced people had variety of activities to choose from including indulging in flavoursome meals prepared by some of the well-known restaurants in Johannesburg and donated by participating volunteers and non-governmental organisations.
In spreading the spirit of generosity on the day, the event incorporated distribution of clothes and provision of access to ablution facilities (to improve personal hygiene), medical services and counselling, shelter placement.
For most underprivileged on the streets of Johannesburg, this was a first time exposure to restaurant setting and free shopping experience.
Kebone Senna, the Sub Unit’s Head: Displaced Persons, said honouring Mandela with the Chow4Change initiative cemented their purpose and mission of giving back to the community.
She said she wanted to set a kind reminder for the underprivileged community that their doors are always open for any kind of assistance they may require.
The day was filled with equaly joy, laughter and lots of love as the delegated were ushered to the restaurant dressed in their favorite outfits from the second hand shop where they were doing a free shopping of donated clothes.
Putting smiles on the faces of the underprivileged was the main theme of the Chow4change awareness event in commemorating the legacy of Mandela.
“I was extremely humbled and reminded of how thoughtful gestures of this nature can bring smiles to others,” said Michael Herd, a teacher at New Acropolis South Africa.
“We wanted to give them a sense of being loved and an ultimate experience of being a restaurant like setting with the restaurant and free shopping experience”.
To further mark the celebration of Mandela Day, cups of a warm soup prepared by the kitchen staffat LKCentric Solutions were shared and distributed in Mayfair Park to homeless people around the Mayfair area.
Written by Getrude Mamabolo
18/07/2023