DO MORE Heroes Inspire Outdoor Play at Sasolburg ECD Centre

In celebration of Mandela Day, a group of 15 dedicated volunteers upgraded Maranatha Edu-care, an under-resourced Early Childhood Development (ECD) centre in Sasolburg.

The volunteers spent the morning of 26th July installing a swing set, planting a garden, painting the centre walls, and fixing bathroom plumbing on the centre grounds.

"These upgrades were carefully chosen in consultation with Maranatha’s principle to enhance the children’s learning environment", explains Philile Mkhize, a DO MORE FOUNDATION community volunteer (known as a DO MORE Hero) and HR Practitioner at Rainbow Chicken in Wolwehoek. “Playing is the most important thing in the lives of children, hygiene is the most sensitive part around the ECD centre, and a meal without vegetables is not a healthy meal.”

The DO MORE FOUNDATION prioritises play on its annual Mandela Day campaigns because it is essential to young children’s learning and development. The simple act of play builds gross motor, fine and visual coordination, cognitive and executive functioning, and social, emotional and physical skills.

For Philile and her fellow volunteers, Mandela Day is a chance to make a lasting impact for the families in their community: “It gives me an opportunity to close the gap between the rich and the poor by using my time, service, and anything tangible. It is so important since giving back enhances the lives of others while also enriching your own heart and nourishing your soul.”

But as a DO MORE Hero, Philile knows that community service is important throughout the year, not just on Mandela Day: “It is about going the extra mile, acting courageously, and passionately reaching out to those in need. Being a community Hero embodies the spirit of selflessness and dedication to making a positive impact in the community.”

Maranatha Edu-care is just one of 192 ECD centre upgrades in the DO MORE FOUNDATION’s country-wide ‘Mandela Day of Play’ Campaign, which brings together over 25 business partners and 500 volunteers to bring more play to approximately 9,600 young children across South Africa.

Through collective action and community spirit, Philile and her 14 fellow volunteers are helping to create better tomorrows for the young children at Maranatha Edu-care and the broader community of Sasolburg.