The team from Coastal College KZN treated frail elders at John Conradie House to an amazing High Tea.

Mandela Day volunteering: why giving your time changes lives … including your own

Every year on 18 July, South Africans come together to honour Nelson Mandela’s legacy by giving 67 minutes of their time to make a difference.

For many, Mandela Day is an opportunity to paint a classroom, serve meals, plant a garden, or spend time with people in need. While these acts may seem small, they often leave a lasting impact that extends far beyond a single day.

For organisations like Tafta, volunteers play an invaluable role in enriching the lives of older persons. Whether they spend an hour chatting to residents, assist at fundraising events, share professional skills, or help maintain our facilities, every volunteer reminds our residents that they are valued, remembered, and part of a caring community.

Volunteering benefits everyone

When people think about volunteering, they often focus on how it helps others. While this is certainly true, volunteering also offers significant benefits to those who give their time.

Research consistently shows that volunteering can improve emotional wellbeing, reduce stress, strengthen social connections, and create a greater sense of purpose. It allows people to step away from the pressures of daily life and reconnect with what truly matters.

There is something deeply rewarding about knowing your time has made someone else’s day a little brighter.

Building meaningful human connections

One of the greatest gifts volunteers offer is simply their presence.

Many older persons experience loneliness due to the loss of spouses, family members moving away, declining mobility, or limited opportunities to socialise. A friendly conversation, shared laugh, game of cards, or walk through the garden can make an enormous difference.

These moments may seem ordinary, but for someone who spends much of their day alone, they can be truly extraordinary.

Just as importantly, volunteers often leave with new friendships and a renewed appreciation for the wisdom, resilience, and life experiences that older generations have to share.

Learning from older generations

Volunteering at an organisation like Tafta is a reminder that every older person has a unique story.

Our residents include retired teachers, nurses, business owners, parents, grandparents, community leaders, and individuals who have lived through remarkable moments in South Africa’s history.

Taking time to listen to their experiences creates meaningful conversations across generations. Volunteers often discover valuable life lessons, fresh perspectives, and inspiring stories that stay with them long after their visit has ended.

Developing new skills and confidence

Volunteering can also be an opportunity for personal and professional growth.

Whether you’re organising activities, assisting with events, working as part of a team, or using your professional expertise to support a non-profit, volunteering helps build communication, leadership, problem-solving, and teamwork skills.

For students and young professionals, volunteer experience can also strengthen a CV while demonstrating compassion, initiative, and community involvement.

Garden clean up and fresh paint on the wall at the entrance to John Dunn House.

Mandela Day is just the beginning

Mandela Day reminds us that every person has the power to make a difference.

While 67 minutes can have a meaningful impact, the needs of vulnerable communities don’t disappear once the day is over. Older persons need care, companionship, nutritious meals, safe housing, and emotional support every day of the year.

Many people who first volunteer on Mandela Day discover how rewarding the experience is and choose to return throughout the year. Others continue supporting organisations through donations, fundraising, or by sharing their professional skills.

Every act of kindness, no matter how big or small, contributes to building stronger, more compassionate communities.

Become part of someone else’s story

Volunteering isn’t about changing the world in a single day. It’s about changing one moment, one conversation, and one life at a time.

This Mandela Day, consider giving more than just 67 minutes. Give your time, your compassion, your skills, and your heart.

You may arrive thinking you’re there to make a difference in someone else’s life.

You may leave discovering they’ve made just as much of a difference in yours.