Ikamva Labantu's Mandela Day initiative raises funds and awareness for vulnerable seniors

Ikamva Labantu and its non-profit partners, Relate Bracelets, raised more than R100 000 through a Mandela Day bracelet-beading initiative.

Representatives from three participating organisations visited the Ikamva Labantu head office in Woodstock on Friday, July 18, where they joined senior citizens in beading bracelets and shared stories and memories of Nelson Mandela.

The Ikamva Labantu organisation, which has been operating for nearly 62 years, supports vulnerable senior citizens by providing transport to senior clubs and health care facilities, as well as access to nutritious meals. While they work in various areas, including Delft, most of their satellite centres are based in Khayelitsha, Gugulethu, and surrounding communities.

Ikamva Labantu's head of fund-raising, Rowen Bauer said that the seniors came to their head office to share 67 minutes with different corporations that visited their organisation.

“They are sharing stories about Madiba, about their lives in the townships, and expand people’s understanding of what is meant to be an elder in the country,” she said

Dalit Shekel, CEO of the Paarden Eiland non-profit, said their organisation provides the seniors with earning opportunities. They provide the beads to the seniors who can bead bracelets at their various senior clubs, and Relate Bracelets then helps them sell the bracelets to retailers to make an income.

“Today was also an opportunity for the corporations to meet the seniors and also learn more about them, and also more on the backstory on our bracelets and connections with Ikamva Labantu,” she said.

Senior citizen, Nothando Mkhethi, 75, from Philippi said she enjoyed meeting the people who visited their organisation.

“Mandela Day teaches us that we must share with one another,” she said.

Ms Mkhethi worked as a domestic worker when she was younger, and she said she loves being part of Ikamva Labantu.

“They help provide us with work and they give us presents,” she said.

Mthobele Billie, 81, from Khayelitsha, who has been part of Ikamva Labantu for three years, said he is proud to be celebrating Mandela Day.

“Mandela was here for all the people of South Africa,” he said.

He said he is proud of Ikamva Labantu.

“They are good for us. If you are sitting at home doing nothing, you could die at any moment, though making bracelets and doing exercises is good for us,” he said. When he was younger, he worked in a glass company factory in Bellville.

Ikamva Labantu also received a further boost when retailers donated 100 boxes of non-perishable goods, while a sock company donated over 10 000 pairs of socks that would go to children who are part of the organisation’s after-school program for the youth.

The  La-Di-Da Ladies knitting group from Pinelands also donated five black bags of blankets, beanies, and scarves for the seniors.

If anyone would like to find out more about Ikamva Labantu, visit www.ikamva.org.za or call 021 461 8338.