Food can mosaic for Mandela

On Mandela Day, today Wednesday July 18, 200 pupils from LEAP Science and Maths Schools will join volunteers to build a massive Nelson Mandela Day mosaic made of food cans, in Canal Walk shopping centre’s food court.

The completed mosaic will consist of over 29 000 donated cans of food.

“We invite everyone to join us for 67 minutes or more, in what is sure to be a historic event that will ultimately help us to continue provide quality education to all our learners,” says John Gilmour, executive director of Leap Science and Maths Schools.

Afterwards, the food cans used in the mosaic will be distributed by pupils from the Langa and Philippi LEAP Science and Maths Schools to social community projects in their communities.

These include the Kuyasa Soup Kitchen which provides hot meals to elderly and vulnerable people; Ithemba Lethu providing extra tutoring to primary and high school pupils in mathematics, science and life science; Kwesu, a sewing project for unemployed women focusing on local economic empowerment; Realistic, an organisation working to prevent ex-prisoners and at risk youth from re-offending with training and life skills; educare centres in Langa and feeder primary schools in the community.

Lindelwa Mini, principal at Leap Science and Maths School in Langa, says: “We want to help our learners to become more conscious of social justice issues and the importance of giving back. All Leap students are required to volunteer their time at social development organisations within their communities at least once every term.

“They are encouraged to view the social responsibility programme as part of their learning, to develop empathy and leadership skills which are crucial in supporting academic performance.”

There are six Leap Science and Maths Schools located in some of the most marginalised communities in South Africa, including two based in the Western Cape.