As the country celebrates International Mandela Day this year, JCDecaux sub-Saharan Africa is committed to making a difference by touching the lives of people with disabilities and by continuing with our ongoing efforts of environmental conservation.
The South African Human Rights Commission states that people with disabilities “continue to lack access to adequate health and basic education, and are at risk of economic isolation with no prospect of securing employment”.
To do their bit for Nelson Mandela Day, members of staff at JCDecaux South Africa dedicated their 67 minutes to the Little Eden Society, to plant trees, donate clothing and engage with residents by participating in different activities.
Domitilla Rota Hyams Founder of Little Eden says, “these children, with a far-away look, have souls more beautiful than the sun. They are angels. They are like lightning conductors on whom we should gaze with veneration. God could have created them normal. But they are as they are. There must be a reason for it which we cannot fathom. So, we accept their creation as God’s design and accept them as a sign of his predilection.”
The trees planted were donated by Willow Feather, is a registered non-profit organisation with the sole objective of greening South Africa. Since establishment in 2012,
They have made a significant impact on the environment by planting trees in
rural areas.
Chris Hitchings Sales and Marketing Director SA says, “at JCDecaux our social mission is just as vital as our market size and propensity for success. We are greatly honoured to celebrate International Mandela Day at Little Eden and do our bit to bring a smile to those living with intellectual disabilities”.
About LITTLE EDEN
LITTLE EDEN has 2 homes, the Edenvale Home which has 180 residents and the Bapsfontein Home which has 120 residents.
LITTLE EDEN believes that the needs of each resident is of equal importance and people with profound intellectual disability should enjoy the rights and benefits that are offered to all South African citizens so that they can aspire to be the best they can be.
Most of these children have been abandoned and marginalized by society. People with intellectual disabilities are particularly vulnerable to discrimination and live in social exclusion.
There are some children at LITTLE EDEN who were predicted to have a short lifespan, according to their medical practitioners, due to the severity of their disability and some who came from backgrounds of neglect and abuse.
A gentle touch, loving and encouraging words, and suitable stimulation interventions bring about hope and assists special angels to reach their full potential.
About Willow Feather Farm
The primary focus of the organization is to educate the youth on the importance of planting trees and looking after the environment. With the assistance of sponsors, they give on average 1500 school children tree gifts, and plant larger trees in rural and disadvantaged schools monthly. By educating the youth and encouraging them to plant trees from a young age, they hope to bring a change in mind-set for the future.
The organization also plant large sustainable trees with a height of 2 to 3 meters mostly in rural schools on behalf of sponsoring companies. By planting these larger indigenous trees it makes their project more sustainable as these trees have a higher survival rate in our harsh environment. Willow Feather’s goal is to plant over 300 000 trees before 2020, join us & leave a living legacy.
About Nelson Mandela Day
Mandela Day is an international campaign centered around the United Nations’ 2009 declaration of Nelson Mandela’s 18 July birthday as Nelson Mandela International Day, which urges everyone, everywhere to take concrete steps towards improving life for others. The campaign is now observed in 149 countries.
The Nelson Mandela Foundation which is one of JCDecaux’s CSI partners, said this year's Mandela Day is dedicated to celebrating 100 years since Nelson Mandela’s birth. In addition to fighting poverty.
The message behind Mandela Day is simple – everyone has the ability and the responsibility to change the world for the better.
If each one of us heeds the call to simply do something good every day, we can live Nelson Mandela’s legacy and help build the country of our dreams.
As the country celebrates International Mandela Day this year, JCDecaux sub-Saharan Africa is committed to making a difference by touching the lives of people with disabilities and by continuing with our ongoing efforts of environmental conservation.
The South African Human Rights Commission states that people with disabilities “continue to lack access to adequate health and basic education, and are at risk of economic isolation with no prospect of securing employment”.
To do their bit for Nelson Mandela Day, members of staff at JCDecaux South Africa dedicated their 67 minutes to the Little Eden Society, to plant trees, donate clothing and engage with residents by participating in different activities.
Domitilla Rota Hyams Founder of Little Eden says, “these children, with a far-away look, have souls more beautiful than the sun. They are angels. They are like lightning conductors on whom we should gaze with veneration. God could have created them normal. But they are as they are. There must be a reason for it which we cannot fathom. So, we accept their creation as God’s design and accept them as a sign of his predilection.”
The trees planted were donated by Willow Feather, is a registered non-profit organisation with the sole objective of greening South Africa. Since establishment in 2012,
They have made a significant impact on the environment by planting trees in
rural areas.
Chris Hitchings Sales and Marketing Director SA says, “at JCDecaux our social mission is just as vital as our market size and propensity for success. We are greatly honoured to celebrate International Mandela Day at Little Eden and do our bit to bring a smile to those living with intellectual disabilities”.
