Every July, Nelson Mandela’s enduring legacy comes into focus again when Mandela Day reminds us that kindness still counts and that even small acts can make a difference. And perhaps that’s exactly why the day has endured, but if we’re serious about carrying that legacy forward, it has to be more that a yearly reminder.
Through Ge:Skenk and the relationships it has built over the years, Scheffel has been close enough to know the difference between a good moment and a real need. She has seen children carrying far too much for their age and parents who want to do better, but who can’t always afford school clothes, transport or the basics that give a child a sense of dignity. And once you’ve seen that, it changes you.
“Yes a meal matters, and so does a blanket or a kind gesture. But I also know how quickly that moment passes. The harder question is what happens the next morning, next month, next year. Who is still there? Who is still feeding? Who is still coaching? Who is still making sure the child gets home safely? That’s where the real work is.”
Which is why she believes the question, “What are we going to do for Mandela Day?” is still an important one. The problem is when the conversation ends there. For Scheffel, that question should be the doorway to a deeper conversation: What would actually help?
Of course, if there is a need for food relief, people must be given food. But often the answer can become so much more. Can the food be sourced from a local caterer, community kitchen or small supplier?
Not every need looks the same and neither should every Mandela Day activation.
“The most meaningful support isn’t always the most visible. Sometimes the need is food or transport or school shoes, and other times it’s someone paying for the thing nobody notices. The moment matters, but the model matters more.”
For Scheffel, asking better questions is where it really starts. Who is already doing the work? What would genuinely help? What do they actually need? And what support would still matter once the day itself is over?
She believes impact isn’t only about what businesses contribute on Mandela Day. It also lives in the choices they make throughout the year and in who they choose to buy from, support and include.
Sometimes that support comes through funding. Sometimes it comes through skills, networks or opening doors for people already doing important work. And sometimes it comes through the everyday decisions businesses are already making.
“Every business spends money. The opportunity is to think more carefully about where that money goes and who benefits from it. Real impact comes from who you choose to buy from, support and include.”
She has seen suppliers gain confidence. She has seen the pride that comes when someone realises their work is valued, and how consistency creates breathing room and gives people the security to plan and grow.
“That is very different from charity. That is income and dignity. A donation can help someone through a difficult day, but steady income gives people the space to think beyond survival mode, which is the part we often miss.”
To Scheffel, Mandela’s legacy has always been deeply human. “It is seeing people as whole people, not as problems to be fixed.” She believes dignity comes from having the opportunity to contribute and to build something for yourself.
With all that said, she does believe Mandela Day still has an important place. “It matters because it wakes people up and reminds us to care.” What she would love to see, is more businesses letting that awareness drive the decisions they make afterwards.
Before planning your next Mandela Day contribution, Scheffel suggests pausing for a moment and asking a few simple questions:
- Where could we be genuinely useful?
- What cause genuinely aligns with our values, our people and our purpose as a business?
- Where can we make a meaningful contribution, whether in our community, our sector or both?
- Who is already doing credible work in that space?
- What do they actually need?
- What can we offer beyond a once-off gesture?
- How can we support in a way that is useful, respectful and sustainable?
The answers will look different for every business, but perhaps that’s the point. Because when you’ve been close enough to the real need, you can’t unsee it.
“Dignity isn’t built in 67 minutes, it’s built over time, and care shouldn’t be confined to social posts. The awareness Mandela Day creates is priceless, but the story is the doorway, not the destination.”