Mandela Day 2026

“There can be no greater gift than that of giving ones time and energy to help others without expecting anything in return ” ~ Nelson Mandela

Huis Horison calls on community to make a meaningful difference this Mandela Month

We are inviting individuals, schools, businesses, community groups, and volunteers to join hands in making a positive impact in the lives of its residents through a variety of exciting volunteer and donation opportunities.

As a residential facility dedicated to supporting persons with intellectual disabilities, Huis Horison continually strives to create a nurturing, engaging, and enriching environment for its residents. We are currently seeking community involvement in several key projects aimed at enhancing resident wellbeing, fostering social connection, and supporting meaningful activities.

During holiday periods, approximately 50 residents stay in at Huis Horison while many of their peers go home. To ensure these residents continue to enjoy a vibrant and engaging environment, Huis Horison is seeking volunteers to assist with holiday activities.

Volunteer opportunities include:

• Hosting games and recreational activities
• Leading sing-alongs and dance sessions
• Providing snacks, treats, or small gifts

These activities help create joyful experiences and reduce feelings of loneliness during the holiday season.

We currently need help to reduce the backlog in our General Recycling Programme, where volunteers will be asked to help us sort the paper and cardboard and thereby play a crucial role in sorting recyclable materials.

Volunteers are invited to come and spend their 67 minutes to help in the work area and join in the vibe of the work areas.

We invite you to contribute to our propagation work area by donating the following items:

• Herb seeds
• Plant cuttings
• Plant seeds

We have the soil, containers, and other necessary materials, but we are short on seeds. Join us for 67 minutes to help plant some hope!

Our parlour serves as a valuable therapeutic and self-care space for residents. The organisation is currently seeking donations to enhance the facility and improve the overall experience.

Needed items include:

• Combs and brushes
• Shampoos and hair-care products
• Mirrors
• Nail Polish
• Nail Files
• Make Up, eye liner, mascara
• Eye shadow pallets
• Make up Brushes

Contributions will help create a more welcoming and enjoyable environment that promotes confidence, relaxation, and personal wellbeing.

The organisation is also seeking donations of:

• Arts and crafts supplies (paints, paintbrushes, paper, colouring pencils, kokis and more)
• Candles (used and old candles are perfect, we repurpose the wax_
• Bread tags and Bottle caps for our Wheelchair project

These materials support creative projects and therapeutic activities that contribute to residents’ emotional wellbeing and personal development.

The importance of animal assisted therapy plays an important role for our residents. Almost on a weekly basis, a group of residents visits our neighbor, AWSS (Animal Welfare Society Stellenbosch), where they contribute by giving the animals attention, and in return, getting the therapeutic benefits thereof. Therefore, Huis Horison proudly supports the AWSS and as part of our Mandela Day drive, we urge supporters to help us with collecting donations of:

• • Tinned pet food
  • Pet toys
  • Treats
  • Fleece blankets
  • Rope leads

If you are interested in getting involved, please reach out to us. We would love to hear from you! Many of our residents will be heading home for the holidays, which presents a great opportunity for you to engage with our community during this time. Don’t hesitate to contact us for more information or to discuss ways you can participate. Your involvement would be greatly appreciated

For more information or to get involved, please contact Huis Horison and become part of a community that cares.