These words will trend tomorrow, if not by this evening, as we commemorate the legacy of the university’s namesake on Nelson Mandela Day.
The 18 July birth date of Nelson Mandela gives us the ideal opportunity to tap into our goodwill as we are asked to give 67 minutes’ of our time and talents to benefit a worthy cause.
At Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU) the outpouring of goodwill is already evident – not in just one event but rather a collection of them, allowing individuals or departments to contribute as they believe best.
Some are involved in clean-ups, some in soup kitchens, some in donating food, shoes, clothing and books, some in giving lessons, some in providing care, some in cooking, some in giving lifts, some in reading to children, some in visiting the elderly, some in planting gardens, some in building …
But they’re mostly all getting involved (we hope).
We’re hoping to hear of other initiatives in which staff and students (albeit that most are still on holiday) have voluntarily given of themselves to make the world a little better than it was before.
We have asked via our internal anonymous online platform called SOAPBOX for staff and students to share their experiences so that we can be encouraged by what they are doing or have done. We are hoping that this feedback will serve to further inspire us.
You see, when we see others roll up their proverbial sleeves and move beyond their comfort zone in sacrificing their time and talents in an authentic way, we may be tempted to do likewise.
And that’s the point …
Only yesterday a colleague attending the NMMU Trust’s newly-launched “Ignite a candle” bursary legacy campaign was inspired to get involved.
She heard how individuals had each contributed R500 each to make up a R25 000-bursary to give to Siviwe Mbele, a first-year student who has overcome incredible odds just to get to university.
And so my friend was inspired to do her bit and is buying a virtual candle worth R500 to ensure that other worthy youngsters are afforded the same opportunity as Siviwe (see story; http://ow.ly/zg9Sb)
It’s a simple concept, like that of giving just 67 minutes’ of your time to make things better than they were before … but the impact can be far-reaching.
So whether you’re on campus or reading this in the proverbial Timbuktu, please join us at Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University as we endeavour to spread the goodwill innate within us.
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