What is Mandela Day and How Can You Get Involved?
Mandela Day, held on July 18th each year, encourages individuals to spend 67 minutes doing something positive in their communities. This initiative honours Nelson Mandela’s 67 years of public service, calling on all of us to do our part—whether it’s planting trees, donating blood, feeding the hungry, or supporting a meaningful cause.
In the spirit of Mandela Day 2025, we’d like to share a few heartfelt initiatives hosted on the BackaBuddy crowdfunding platform. Supporting these campaigns is a great way to do your bit this Mandela Day.
From placing senior dachshunds with elderly companions to running 67 kilometers for mental health awareness or feeding hungry children over the weekend, each initiative contributes to real change.
Save a Frosty Face for Mandela Day 2025
Cape Dachshund Rescue (CDR) is raising R40,000 this Mandela Day to cover one month of veterinary bills for 92 senior dachshunds in its care. Operating across the Western Cape, Eastern Cape, and Southern Cape, the organisation runs a Frosty Face Foster programme, which matches elderly dachshunds with people between the ages of 60 and 80. Adoption fees are waived, and vet costs are fully covered, allowing for lifelong companionship without financial burden.
Each donation—especially in multiples of R67—helps ensure these senior pets continue to receive the care and love they deserve.
Donate: https://www.backabuddy.co.za/campaign/save-a-frosty-face-for-mandela-day-2025
NPO Website: https://capedachshunds.co.za/
The Chosen Runs: We See You Challenge
In Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, the team at Trulife is calling on the public to walk, run, or cycle 67 kilometers in July as part of the “We See You” Mandela Day Challenge. Their goal is to raise R6,700 per team to fund workshops and programs that support learners navigating trauma, often without the tools or recognition they need.
So far, over R1,900 has been raised. Additional support will help expand Trulife’s reach, allowing them to provide critical life skills and mental health education across South Africa.
Donate: https://www.backabuddy.co.za/campaign/the-chosen-runs-mandela-day-challenge-2025
Charity Website: https://trulife.org.za/about-us/
WeSeeYou teaser 2025 – YouTube
Hope & Hunger: Feed the Children of Promiseland
In the informal settlement of Promiseland in Palmridge, Gauteng, 47-year-old cleaner Nonkululeko “Nonny” Mda spends her weekends feeding up to 100 hungry children through her grassroots initiative, Ikhaya Lethu (Our Home). She started this mission in 2018 after witnessing the hardship children face when school meals aren’t available on weekends.
“Weekends are the hardest for children who rely on school meals. I can’t sit back and do nothing,” says Nonny. “I use my own income and rely on donations, even if it means I go without.”
Her campaign has already raised over R25,000 of its R60,000 goal, but continued support is essential to keep these children nourished every weekend.
Donate: https://www.backabuddy.co.za/campaign/hope-hunger-feed-the-children-of-promiseland
Mandela Day: Little Brains Deserve Big Futures
In Bellville in the Western Cape, a team of MBA students from Stellenbosch University has launched a campaign in partnership with Goldilocks and the Bear, a nonprofit that provides free mental health screenings and early intervention for children in underserved areas.
“R670 covers the full journey for one child—screening, counselling, and referrals,” the students explain. “Mental health support should never be a luxury.”
Their goal is to raise R67,000 this Mandela Day so that more children can access the mental health care they need to thrive.
Donate: https://www.backabuddy.co.za/campaign/mandela-day-little-brains-deserve-big-futures
Charity Website: Goldilocks and The Bear Foundation
Start Your Own Mandela Day Campaign
Have a cause close to your heart? You can start your own Mandela Day campaign on BackaBuddy and turn your passion into impact. Whether it’s a local clean-up, school supply drive, or a bigger community project, your 67 minutes can ripple far beyond the day itself.
Start here: Sign up to make a difference | BackaBuddy