Mandela day 2022
On 18 July, Mandela day, the Right to Care operations troops; Communications, Social Behavioural Change, Head-office Operations, Budget and Risk Management teams, and a few more good-hearted individuals that decided to join the activities of the day, gathered at the Right to Care Research Esizayo with Dr Ntombi Sigwebela (Head: BDU) and Louis du Plooy (Executive: Operations) to visit the community of Cosmo City.
We arrived at Esizayo clinic in the morning, where we were greeted and embraced with warm smiles from the clinicians. They took us on a tour of the clinic, right before we gathered for a fun team photoshoot. For a few individuals, it was their first time being smeared with make-up, which was, if anything, quite humorous to witness. It was an impromptu bonding session for colleagues to gather outside of their comfort zone.
After the photoshoot, the team was split into two, and departed to their allocated school to start with the gardening work. One team tended to the grounds of a secondary school, and the other, a primary school. Both teams worked tirelessly, and the end-result of both gardens, were a remarkable sight. It is fair to say, that gardening, would not be a bad alternative career for everyone who shovelled, picked the weeds, and planted seeds on the day.
The team who worked at the primary school, were lucky enough to interact with the children, who, at the end of the day, were presented with goodie bags and Bluetooth speakers. To see the gleaming smiles on their faces was priceless, and a great reminder of how impactful being present is, as opposed to just giving out donations.
When the question, “how did you find the day,” was posed to the team, Deborah Tshokotshela from legal, answered: “There is much better we can do outside of our office spaces and behind our desks.” Dr Mashudu, from Esizayo clinic, followed that statement, by stating that: “It was great to meet and connect with team members from other departments and offices, because, as Right to Care, we are one big family.”
We closed off the successful day with words of encouragement, that all who were present, took to heart – thanking everyone for taking a day off their busy schedules, to offer their time and labour to uplift the community. Rome was not built in a day, but if we continuously unite to do good, we can build a nation greater than Rome, in a lesser time.
A special thank you goes out to Sibusiso Maseko, Program Manager: Community Engagement, and Fhatuwani Luvhengo, Community Liaison, for liaising with the two schools, making it possible for us to be granted permission to do the work on the grounds, as well as Fadzayi Chambati, our administrative officer, and Gladys Pule, our technical specialist, for conjoining their brain power to bring this great initiative to life.
The Comms team is immensely grateful to Louis who supported the Mandela day activities. He believes that businesses that remain sustainable are those that put their people and communities first. As a team, that is why we call him, the wise leader with an outstanding stakeholder pedigree.
The day was testament to Right to Care’s overall mission – to care for our people and communities. Something we do, and will continue to do, every single day.