18 July is Mandela Day and South Africans will roll up their sleeves and head off to the closest non-profit organisation (NPO) armed with builders, volunteers, gardening tools, buckets of paint and plenty of good intentions.
But what if our annual efforts are not making the impact we think they do?
For many charities it is a day when teams from well-meaning businesses arrive in a hurricane of matching T-shirts and boot-loads of supplies, get stuck in, and then leave as quickly as they arrived.
What if we are unintentionally contributing to the dread that many NPOs feel in the run-up to Mandela Day?
Aside from having a freshly painted wall, the NPO is no better off than it was before they arrived – and more often than not, there is a bit of a mess to clean up.
Here are five things you should NOT do if you really want to make an impact and leave a legacy, not just for one day a year, but every day:
ALSO READ: Hang out on the line with a helping hand
• Do not pick just any NPO
Find a NPO that could really benefit from what you do: your product or service, or your business counsel.
A catering business could easily set up a soup kitchen at a homeless shelter. An IT company can teach underprivileged children how to access educational information online. One costs money; the other time. But both are equally effective.
• Do not assume
Painting walls and planting veggie gardens are popular Mandela Day activities; however many charities have more pressing, immediate needs and the simplicity of some might be surprising.
Ask your chosen NPO for their wish list and act on it.
• Do not overlook planning
You need a solid action plan for the day, especially if you only have 67 minutes to spare. If the homeless shelter really needs a veggie garden but this is not your core business, then consult with experts on the right seeds to plant for the time of year, the right tools to use, and how to maintain the garden.
4. Do not neglect your legacy
The efforts you put into Mandela Day should not be a once-off exercise. Ideally, you should partner with the NPO so that you can make a real difference, all year round, year after year.
5. Do not forget…
Mandela Day is not about money or budgets or writing cheques. It is about using our ability and honouring our responsibility to make the world a better place. Not to mention the positive mental health effects that volunteering has on your team members.
HAVE YOUR SAY
Like our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter.
For news straight to your phone invite us:
WhatsApp – 072 069 4169
Instagram – zululand_observer
