From Awareness to Action: A Mandela Day of Hope, Dignity and Community

There are conversations that are difficult to have, yet they are the very conversations our country cannot afford to avoid.

This year's Mandela Day initiative at St Stithians Girls' College began with one of those conversations.

In the weeks leading up to Mandela Day, our school community gathered for a Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Awareness Assembly. While students arrived dressed in black and purple, it quickly became clear that this was far more than a civvies day. Black symbolised the lives that have been lost to Gender-Based Violence, while purple represented hope – hope that through education, awareness and action, we can create a future where every woman and child can live free from fear.

Gender-Based Violence continues to affect thousands of women and children across South Africa every day. As a girls' school, we believe these are conversations our students need to have. We want them to understand what healthy relationships look like, recognise the signs of abuse, and know that every person deserves to be treated with dignity and respect. During the assembly, Ms Kavya Swaminathan from Women For Change South Africa encouraged our students to recognise the difference between love and control and the importance of healthy boundaries. The conversation became deeply personal when Grade 11 student Hlonela Mrwetyana courageously shared the story of her cousin, Uyinene Mrwetyana, reminding us that Gender-Based Violence is not something that happens to strangers. It affects families, communities and young people just like us. As Hlonela returned to her seat, many students quietly embraced her, a simple but powerful reminder that no one should have to carry these stories alone.

As powerful as the assembly was, we knew that awareness alone was not enough.

At St Stithians, Community Engagement is built on the belief that learning does not end in the classroom. We want our students to step outside of their own experiences and better understand the realities that many South Africans face every day. It is through these experiences that they develop empathy, humility and compassion, while recognising that each of us has a responsibility to use what we have to make a difference in the lives of others.

We therefore wanted to move beyond conversation and into action.

Our school community began collecting comfort packs and essential items for Tshegofatsa Rona Women and Children's Shelter, including toiletries, sanitary products, clothing, blankets, toys, board games and everyday necessities. Among the donations were packs of underwear for women and girls. While this may seem like a small item, many survivors of abuse arrive at shelters with very few personal belongings, and some arrive after receiving medical care with almost nothing of their own. These simple donations restore dignity at a time when dignity has often been taken away.

Because the school would be writing examinations during Mandela Day, we commemorated Mandela Day earlier, on 20 June.

A group of Girls' College students, staff and members of our Community Engagement Parents' Committee travelled to Tshegofatsa Rona Women and Children's Shelter, a place of safety for women rebuilding their lives after experiencing abuse and for children who have experienced abandonment or unsafe circumstances.

Tshegofatsa Rona is far more than a shelter.

It is a place where healing begins.

It is a place where women are supported emotionally, equipped with life skills and given the opportunity to rebuild their confidence before returning to society. For many of the children living there, is simply home.

Within minutes of arriving, the shelter was filled with laughter.

The youngest children had just finished breakfast and were soon surrounded by students who instinctively sat with them, played games, read stories, and carried them around as if they had known each other for years. Watching these moments unfold reminded us how quickly love can make a place feel like family.

Everyone found a way to serve.

Some students prepared breakfast for the entire house. Others grated carrots, chopped vegetables, washed dishes, and packed the comfort packs that would later be handed out. Our Community Engagement parents worked tirelessly in the kitchen preparing lunch, while members of our Knitting Club spent time knitting alongside the women, chatting, laughing and simply enjoying one another's company. It was never about how much work each person did, but about everyone choosing to contribute in whatever way they could.

Before breakfast was served, everyone gathered for a song led by our Girls' College students, followed by a heartfelt prayer led by the children from the shelter. It was one of those beautiful moments where it no longer felt like one community visiting another, but rather one family sharing time together.

We were warmly welcomed by Ms Cynthia, who shared the important role Tshegofatsa plays in providing women and children with a place of safety, care and support as they begin rebuilding their lives. She also introduced us to little Gift, who joined the Tshegofatsa Rona family after being abandoned at just four months old. It did not take long before Gift became one of the most popular little people at the shelter, happily making his way from one Girls' College student to another, receiving endless cuddles, smiles and attention throughout the day.

One of the highlights for many of the women was the opportunity to knit alongside our students. While hands were busy creating scarves and blankets, conversations flowed naturally, friendships began to form, and there was plenty of laughter along the way.

The women and teenage girls also participated in a self-defence session led by our own Ms Zoe Bibbings, who equipped them with basic techniques to help them feel more confident and aware of their personal safety.

After a busy morning, lunch was finally ready. On the menu was chicken stew, pap and fresh salads, a warm meal that was especially appreciated on a cold winter's day. The pap took a little longer than expected to cook in the enormous pot we were using, providing a few light-hearted laughs as everyone patiently waited for it to be ready. Although time did not allow us to stay and share the meal together, knowing it had been prepared with love made every minute worthwhile.

As the day drew to a close, one thing became abundantly clear.

We may have arrived carrying donations, but we left carrying something far greater.

We left inspired by women who continue to choose hope despite the hardships they have faced.

We left inspired by children whose laughter filled every corner of the shelter.

We left reminded that family is not always the people we are born to, but often the people who choose to walk alongside us when we need them most.

Most importantly, we left reminded that kindness still exists.

Our visit was not about arriving with all the answers. It was about showing up, building relationships and reminding one another that no one should ever feel forgotten. We hope that, for even a single day, every woman and child at Tshegofatsa Rona felt seen, valued and deeply loved.

Our sincere thanks go to:

• The Girls' College Community Engagement Parents' Committee for your vision, generosity and countless hours of planning and serving alongside us.
• Bryanston Fruit, Veg & Flower Market for your generous discount on the fresh produce needed for the day.
• Express Power Save, Bram Fischer, for your generous discounts and additional grocery donations, allowing us to prepare meals and leave groceries behind for the shelter.
• The Girls' College Knitting Club for the beautiful blankets, scarves and beanies lovingly made throughout the year.
• Our Girls' College students, parents and staff for every donation made. Your generosity reminded every woman and child at Tshegofatsa that they are seen, valued and loved.

Nelson Mandela once said,

"It is in your hands to create a better world for all who live in it."

This Mandela Day reminded us that creating a better world does not always begin with extraordinary acts. Sometimes, it begins with listening. Sometimes, it begins with showing up. And sometimes, it simply begins with reminding another person that they are not alone.