On the 18^th of July, the birthday of our beloved former Statesman, Dr Nelson Rholihlahla Mandela, Good Hope Fm Breakfast with Guy McDonald & The Nigel Pierce Show will broadcast from Thembalethu School for the disabled in Gugulethu from 06:00-12:00 and will be handing over blankets and linen donated by listeners. SABC Touching Lives in conjunction with Hillsong Africa Foundation and Correction Services will be handing over the keys for dormitories to Thembalethu School for the Disabled in Gugulethu.

The project has been made possible with R6m donation from Hillsong Africa Foundation after they were touched by an SABC News story on the plight of the disabled children from the school. SABC then approached Hillsong for a partnership to help the pupils and Hillsong came to the table. Correctional Services then offered to help with construction work by providing offenders who are qualified artisans. On hearing about the project, Oasis Group Holdings also joined and will be feeding the pupils on a daily basis for a period of 12 months. 

International Mandela Day was adopted by the United Nations on the 10^th of November in 2008. The purpose of Mandela Day is for individuals, communities and organisations to donate 67 minutes to doing something for others, commemorating the 67 years that Nelson Mandela gave to the struggle for social justice.

Inline with this call, the three partners came together and accepted the challenge to improve 163 lives. On this day, phase one of the project will see 40 of those disabled pupils moving into their new dormitories.

The first group to move in includes pupils from all over the outlying areas of the Western Cape. Some of them have until now been squatting at another hostel faraway from their school. While others, who also lived far and in squalor conditions had to wakeup very early to get to school on time. Being disabled, this was a challenge for them.

As part of the Mandela Day, the partners would not only play their part by handing over the hostel but intends being there spending time in improving the facility.

Good Hope FM is proud to broadcast live from this very special event where the smiles of the children would be the theme for the day.

More On Mandela Day here