Igniting change and embodying Mandela's legacy through sustainable solutions and civic activism
The JMJ movement focuses on igniting civic activism and creating sustainable solutions to the social and economic challenges many people are facing.
Making a meaningful and sustainable difference in the lives of those less fortunate was an ideal and a value that the late President Nelson Mandela embraced and lived by. Mandela Day is an annual global celebration that takes place on Madiba’s birthday to honour his life and legacy. This day is a call to action for individuals, communities, and organisations to take time to reflect on Mandela's values and principles and to make a positive, meaningful and sustainable impact in their own communities.
Mandela's vision of freedom was not just about removing oppressive laws but also transforming mindsets and social conditions to enable all people to truly live free. His words and actions have inspired the JMJ movement, founded on Mandela Day, 18 July 2023, as a positive catalyst for change. The movement embodies the spirit of our Constitution and celebrates Mandela’s legacy of collaboration, reimagination, and uplifting the community.
The Jozi My Jozi team celebrated the movement's first birthday
Adopt a Block
We launched our ‘Adopt a Block’ on Mandela Day on the 18th of July, in collaboration with many stakeholders and partners to turn every day into a Mandela Day, to make a meaningful difference and encourage ongoing community involvement and teamwork to create sustainable improvements in our city. While our inner city clean-up was supported by registered corporates, we also called on all the residents of Jozi to do their bit on 18 July by cleaning up the areas around their homes or workplaces – and to make this a sustainable and lasting effort throughout the year.
Over 15 corporates and NGOs joined forces on #MandelaDay2024 for a massive inner-city clean-up across Jozi
Biggest Inner-City Clean-Up
Our own ‘Adopt a Block’ event on #MandelaDay2024 was a huge inner-city clean-up. More than 15 corporates, including Anglo American, De Beers, Nando’s, IQbusiness, Absa, FNB, Nedbank, Standard Bank, Hollard, AFHCO, TUHF, Maharishi Invincibility Institute, Wits Health, UJ Doornfontein Campus, Wits and UJ SRC teams, plus the Gauteng Provincial Government and City of Joburg Councillors, participated in the clean-ups that took place across Hillbrow, Joubert Park, Ellis Park, Lorentzville and Bertrams. They were joined by a number of NGOs from the inner city including Eyakho Environmental Group, Dotted “O” Foundation in Hillbrow, and Hillbrow eKhaya.
Uniting on #MandelaDay2024, we revitalised Hillbrow, fostering pride and a brighter future for Jozi.
With more than 3,500 employees from these organisations committing their time and efforts to this major clean-up, the aim was to not only improve the physical appearance of the city, but also to bring people together and foster a sense of community pride and ownership.
Our goal for this Mandela Day clean-up was to rejuvenate Hillbrow and bring back the shine of this once vibrant jewel of the city, to make a positive impact, to enhance the environment, and to cultivate a sense of communal pride. This initiative demonstrated a deep commitment to making a positive impact on the city and its residents. By focusing on cleaning and uplifting the inner city to create a safe environment, and by engaging individuals, corporates, and communities to take action, we are working to create a more equitable, resilient, and vibrant Johannesburg, and a better world for all.
Watch our #MadelaDay2024 event highlights video
Adopt a Project
Nelson Mandela Day reminds us of the power of giving back, but the spirit of Mandela shouldn't be confined to just 67 minutes once a year. The Adopt a Project initiative by Jozi launched on Mandela Day hopes to turn every day into a Mandela Day by encouraging ongoing community involvement and teamwork to create lasting improvements in our city. By using Mandela Day as a starting point for making a difference, Jozi My Jozi focuses on igniting civic activism and creating sustainable solutions to the social and economic challenges our people face.
This 365-day Adopt a Project campaign encourages you to volunteer your time and skills all year round to make a difference. Let's celebrate his legacy every day by embodying his values of compassion, justice, and community service. Jozi My Jozi encourages you to make kindness a daily habit, to stand up for what's right, and to help those in need. By doing so, we can transform our city into a beacon of hope and unity, honouring Mandela's vision of a better world for all. Together, let's live the legacy of Madiba every single day. We ask everyone to join us as it is still in our hands to combat poverty and inequity.
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