Mandela Day is an annual global celebration that occurs on 18 July to honour the life and legacy of Mr. Nelson Mandela. This day serves as a call to action for individuals, communities, and organisations to reflect on Mandela’s values and principles and make a positive impact in their communities.
No matter how small your action, Mandela Day is about changing the world for the better, just as Nelson Mandela did every day.
On Wednesday, July 17, The Somerset residents celebrated Mandela Day and the first birthday of Seed of Hope. Over 80 residents, friends, guests, and visitors gathered to join in the festivities, which were filled with music, soup, bread, wine, and dancing. It was a heartwarming day of community, joy, and giving.
Our fundraising efforts were a tremendous success. More importantly, our community’s generosity ensured that over 200 people in Allan Boesak Village and Sir Lowry’s Pass Village will be warmer this winter with the blankets and clothing collected.
The funds raised will be used for future vegetable gardens, furthering our mission to nurture and sustain the vulnerable community of Sir Lowry’s Pass Village. Thank you to everyone who contributed and participated in this memorable celebration. Together, we are planting seeds of hope for a brighter future.
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We wanted to share a little behind-the-scenes glimpse of the privilege of planting seeds of hope for those less fortunate…
Thank you, to one of our residents at The Somerset, for these hand-knitted jerseys. Acts of kindness have the power to deeply impact people and create a ripple effect of joy and positivity.
We were excited to give the nursery school staff our homemade soap, made with care and sponsored with love. Each bar had a special message – just a small token of our appreciation for their unwavering dedication and support.
Fiela lovingly prepared her famous soup made from maize, beans, and bones; a heartwarming favourite. The children at Sir Lowry’s Pass Village loved it!
Pictured here are the first turnips from the vegetable garden and Fiela sent us a message of gratitude!
The Somerset team was filled with enthusiasm as they started the fourth vegetable garden at the Nursery School. The joy of collectively growing fresh produce and fostering a love for gardening within the community makes this initiative incredibly fulfilling.
Pictured here – our residents are unloading compost for the fourth vegetable garden.
Being guided by The Somerset’s knowledgeable gardening guru, Gerrit, our residents, and community members successfully planted 400 seedlings in the fourth community garden. The young children from the Creche enthusiastically joined in, discovering and embracing valuable gardening skills that will benefit future generations. Together, we are nurturing a flourishing community garden initiative that fosters growth and learning for all involved!
In anticipation of an upcoming cold and wet week, the caring residents of Somerset took proactive steps and generously delivered a carload of blankets and clothes to Sir Lowry’s Pass Village, ensuring that the community would be prepared for the inclement weather.
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After powerful storms hit the Western Cape, Sir Lowry’s Pass Village suffered significant damage. The storms destroyed many shacks, leaving families vulnerable to the heavy rain. In response to the urgent need for plastic sheeting to protect the affected homes, the residents quickly joined forces to address the issue. The Somerset residents supplied plastic sheeting as a temporary shelter to those affected.
We are privileged to be part of the Village Collaboration NPO and extend our heartfelt gratitude for their effective and loving distribution of the blankets and clothes donated. A special thank you goes to Jolin who spent countless hours in wet and cold conditions.
With empathy and dedication, Jolin ensured that the right people received the much-needed relief. Their efforts have made a significant impact.
