In celebration of Mandela Day this year, the Goodwood Community Day Centre (CDC) partnered with the Salvation Army and the Department of Social Development to host a Career Day for foster children — a heartfelt initiative aimed at inspiring hope and opportunity through education and service.
“Our aim was not only to give back, but also to educate and inspire using the spirit of Mandela Day to bring hope and opportunity to young lives,” said professional nurse Parfait Munyemana, who helped coordinate the event.
Educating through action
As part of the Career Day outreach, healthcare professionals from Goodwood CDC gave short talks and hands-on demonstrations to the foster children, highlighting the various services offered by the centre and sharing insights into career paths in the healthcare sector.
“We elaborated on the wide range of primary healthcare services we offer,” explained Munyemana. “We also spoke about career opportunities in healthcare, hoping to ignite interest among the children in joining this rewarding field.”
Mandela’s legacy
Beyond education, the team extended their outreach to the broader community through a feeding programme. Soup, hotdogs, and sandwiches were served to those in need — a gesture Munyemana described as “a small way of honouring Madiba’s legacy by addressing hunger and bringing warmth to our surrounding community”.
Collaboration at its core
This multifaceted outreach effort was made possible through a strong network of collaboration. Key role players included the Goodwood CDC team — from nurses and administrative staff to community healthcare workers — as well as the Salvation Army, the Department of Social Development, Pick n Pay (Goodwood), and the Navy.
“Mandela Day is a reminder of our shared responsibility to uplift and serve,” Munyemana said.
“We chose this outreach to support and encourage vulnerable children in foster care, promote public awareness of the vital health services available at Goodwood CDC, and bring dignity and warmth to members of our community through food and connection.”
The team hopes that this initiative will inspire youth to pursue healthcare careers, inform the public about accessible community services, and strengthen the ties between local health, social, and civic organisations.
“Most importantly,” Munyemana concluded, “we hope it makes our community feel seen, supported, and valued — not just on Mandela Day, but every day.”
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