Celebrity chef and author Zola Nene.
Celebrity chef and author Zola Nene has teamed up with the non-profit organisation Ladles of Love for this year’s Mandela Day, launching an urgent call to action to assist 20,000 preschool children in under-resourced communities. The "Hands-On Heroes" campaign invites companies, families, and community groups to dedicate 67 minutes to activities designed to nourish and educate children who are currently facing food insecurity. For Nene, the partnership is deeply personal. "Food for me has always been about sharing moments, about connection, and about sharing culture," she says.
"Feeding a child is a vital step in advancing their education and ensuring the best future outcomes. Expecting a child to learn and excel while being hungry is unreasonable; proper nourishment is vital to give them the best focus for learning. "The initiative aims to provide more than just immediate hunger relief; it focuses on creating a long-term impact on early childhood development. Ladles of Love has structured the campaign around four "activation zones" at the events:
The campaign offers a streamlined way for corporate teams to participate in Mandela Day without the logistical burden of planning an initiative from scratch. Each 90-minute volunteer session is designed to provide employees with a shared, meaningful experience while making a tangible contribution. The impact of the event is directly tied to its fundraising model: the cost of a single R300 ticket provides a child with two healthy meals a day for an entire month.
