Firebird’s Mandela Day: 67 Minutes of Giving Back to Our Community
Key Campaign Facts:
- 200+ sandwiches prepared and donated
- Blankets collected and donated
- Initiative organised internally by Firebird
- Supported MES Durbanville and Durbanville Children’s Home
- Team-wide participation through ingredients, blankets, preparation and packing
- Inspired by Mandela Day’s 67 minutes of service
Turning 67 Minutes Into Meaningful Action This Mandela Day
Mandela Day is a reminder that meaningful change does not always require a grand gesture. Sometimes, it starts with people coming together and asking a simple question: what can we do to help?
This Mandela Day, the Firebird team turned our 67 minutes into a practical, hands-on initiative supporting two organisations within our local community: MES Durbanville and the Durbanville Children’s Home.
From making more than 200 sandwiches to collecting blankets, it was an opportunity for everyone in the office to contribute and live one of the values that sits at the heart of Firebird: philanthropy.
Why 67 Minutes Matter on Mandela Day
Every year on 18 July, Mandela Day encourages people to dedicate 67 minutes to making a positive difference, representing the 67 years Nelson Mandela devoted to public service.
Rather than joining an existing campaign, Firebird decided to organise an initiative internally that would give everyone in the office an opportunity to participate.
The idea was deliberately simple. We wanted to do something practical that the whole team could get involved in together.
More Than 200 Sandwiches Made by the Firebird Team
Everyone who was able to contribute brought bread, spreads or other sandwich ingredients into the office.
Then it was time to get to work.
The team came together to prepare, assemble and pack more than 200 sandwiches, turning our Mandela Day contribution into a genuine group effort.
The sandwiches were donated to MES Durbanville and the Durbanville Children’s Home, two organisations close to the communities where many members of the Firebird team live.
Bringing Warmth to the Durbanville Children’s Home
Our Mandela Day contribution did not stop with sandwiches.
Team members also donated blankets they already had or purchased new ones to contribute to the initiative. These were collected together and donated to the Durbanville Children’s Home.
With winter well underway in Cape Town, blankets felt like another simple and practical way our team could contribute.
Supporting Organisations Within Our Local Community
When deciding where the community donations should go, we wanted to support organisations with a recognised presence in our local area.
MES Durbanville and the Durbanville Children’s Home are both close to communities where many of our people live, making them natural choices for the initiative.
Our Executive Assistant, Gretchen Coetzee, delivered the sandwiches to MES and the blankets to the Durbanville Children’s Home, ensuring the team’s contributions reached both organisations.
“Although this was our first initiative with these organisations, we would be proud to support them again when future opportunities arise.”
People Coming Together for a Purpose
What made the day particularly meaningful was not simply the number of sandwiches prepared or blankets collected.
It was seeing the whole office get involved wherever they could.
Some people brought ingredients. Others contributed blankets. Everyone helped prepare and pack the sandwiches together.
It was a small demonstration of what can happen when people combine their individual contributions around a shared purpose.
At Firebird, people, profession and philanthropy are central to the way we think about our role beyond financial services. Mandela Day gave us another opportunity to put that philosophy into practice within our own community.
Creating Something That Matters
More than 200 sandwiches. A collection of blankets. 67 minutes dedicated to helping others.
Each contribution may have been simple on its own, but together they represented something much bigger: a team choosing to give its time, resources and energy to people within the community around us.
A sincere thank you to everyone at Firebird who contributed, prepared, packed and helped make the initiative possible.
And thank you to MES Durbanville and the Durbanville Children’s Home for the important work they continue to do within our community.
For Firebird, Mandela Day was another reminder that creating something that matters goes far beyond business.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Mandela Day and why is 67 minutes significant?
Mandela Day is observed annually on 18 July. The 67 minutes represent the 67 years Nelson Mandela devoted to public service and encourage people to dedicate time to making a positive difference.
What did Firebird do for Mandela Day?
The Firebird team prepared and packed more than 200 sandwiches and collected blankets as part of an internally organised Mandela Day initiative.
Where were Firebird’s Mandela Day donations delivered?
Sandwiches were donated to MES Durbanville and the Durbanville Children’s Home, while the collected blankets were delivered to the Durbanville Children’s Home.
Why did Firebird support MES Durbanville and Durbanville Children’s Home?
Firebird wanted to support organisations within its local community. Both organisations are well known in the Durbanville area and are close to where many Firebird team members live.
How did the Firebird team get involved in the Mandela Day initiative?
Team members contributed bread, spreads and other sandwich ingredients, helped prepare and pack the sandwiches, and donated blankets they already owned or purchased specifically for the initiative.