South Africans aged 55+ have a lifetime of skills, experience and compassion to share. Meet inspiring YEI members who are giving back through volunteering and discover how Mandela Day’s 67-minute challenge could bring purpose, friendship and fulfilment to your own life.
Mandela Day
As South Africa prepares to celebrate Nelson Mandela Day on 18 July, millions of people will be encouraged to spend 67 minutes helping others. The idea is beautifully simple. The 67 minutes represent the 67 years Nelson Mandela devoted to public service, reminding us that even a small act of kindness has the power to change lives.
But what if those 67 minutes became something more? What if they sparked a new friendship, a renewed sense of purpose, or even a completely new chapter in your life?
For many South Africans aged 55 and over, that’s exactly what volunteering has done.
South Africa’s greatest untapped resource
South Africa faces no shortage of challenges. Community organisations, charities, hospices, schools, libraries, animal welfare groups and environmental projects all rely on volunteers to help them fulfil their missions. At the same time, our country has another remarkable resource. Millions of older South Africans who have spent decades building careers, raising families, solving problems and developing skills that are just as valuable today as they have ever been.
The World Health Organisation estimates that by the middle of this century, around 22% of the world’s population will be aged 60 and over. Rather than seeing this growing demographic as a challenge, perhaps we should recognise it for what it truly is. An extraordinary source of experience, wisdom, compassion and practical knowledge.
Today’s retirees are increasingly rejecting the old idea that retirement means stepping back from life. Instead, many are asking a different question:
“How can I make a difference?”
Volunteering gives back too
We often think volunteering is about helping others. It is. But it also gives something back to the volunteer. Research consistently shows that people who volunteer often enjoy better emotional wellbeing, stronger social connections and a greater sense of purpose. Having somewhere to be, people to meet and a cause to care about can enrich everyday life in ways we don’t always expect.
At You’ve Earned It, we see this regularly
We recently asked members of the YEI Hub to tell us about the organisations they support and why they volunteer. Their stories show that making a difference doesn’t always require huge amounts of time. Sometimes it simply starts with saying yes.
A walk that means the world
For Georgina, volunteering means spending time at the SPCA in Grassy Park. She admits it can be heartbreaking to see so many animals waiting for their forever homes, but she knows that even a short walk or a few minutes of play gives them comfort, stimulation and kindness while they wait. Sometimes the greatest gift we can offer isn’t money. It’s our time.
Standing beside people through loss
Lisa’s volunteering takes place with Hospice West Coast as part of the bereavement team. She supports people after the loss of a loved one, giving them space to be heard and helping them navigate one of life’s most difficult experiences. It is quiet work that often happens behind the scenes, yet it provides enormous comfort to families when they need it most.
Bringing joy to older adults
Remona volunteers at CPOA where she works with older people and helps facilitate a variety of daily activities. She says every day is different and the activities not only keep the residents active and engaged, but keep her active too. Her story reminds us that volunteering is often a gift shared by everyone involved.
Small stitches, big impact
For Sandra, making a difference begins with a crochet hook. She and others in Warner Beach crochet blankets, beanies and bed socks for local charities, which distribute them to families and individuals who need them most. A handmade blanket cannot solve every problem. But it can provide warmth, comfort and dignity to someone going through a difficult time.
Sharing a lifetime of knowledge
Linda has volunteered for most of her life and, although she has scaled back, she continues to make a remarkable contribution. As a member of the Friends of the Kempton Park Libraries, she helps raise funds to buy books for local libraries. She also runs occasional craft workshops, teaches scrapbook classes, has hosted entrepreneurship seminars and is planning a career expo later this year. One of her favourite volunteer experiences was helping residents at a local retirement home research their family histories. Watching people discover their ancestors and reconnect with their own stories brought her enormous joy. It is a wonderful reminder that the skills we develop over a lifetime often become our greatest gifts to others.
Giving together
Alison’s volunteering is also about community. She belongs to the Constantia Craft Club, where members generously create and donate items to a number of charities. The friendships formed through the club are just as valuable as the support they provide to others.
Many volunteer groups become communities themselves, bringing together people who enjoy the same interests and share the same desire to make a positive difference.
Could your first 67 minutes become something more?
You don’t have to volunteer every week. You don’t have to commit to years of service. You don’t even have to know exactly where to begin. This Mandela Day, why not simply give 67 minutes?
• Walk a rescue dog.
• Read to children.
• Visit someone who is lonely.
• Help at a community kitchen.
• Support a charity shop.
• Plant indigenous trees.
• Share your professional skills with a non-profit organisation.
• Or simply ask a local organisation how you can help.
Those first 67 minutes might become the beginning of something far bigger than you ever imagined. Because volunteering isn’t only about giving back. It’s about building friendships. Learning new skills. Staying active. Finding purpose. And discovering that this chapter of life still has so much to offer.
As our YEI members have shown, retirement isn’t about stepping back. For many people, it’s the perfect time to step forward. As Nelson Mandela so beautifully said:
“What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived.
It is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead.”
Perhaps this Mandela Day, your 67 minutes could be the start of a lifetime of giving back.
A YEI article, with thanks to YEI Hub members who contributed so beautifully to this article
