MEDIA NEWSROOM
2nd Participate for Good Mandela Day Library delivered
2nd May, Masameni, Kwa-Zulu Natal – The 2nd Participate for Good Mandela Day library container initiative between 46664 Bangles and the Old Mutual Joberg2C mountain bike race with partners NGO Breadline Africa and the Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory, celebrated the opening of their library on Thursday 2 May at Qoyintaba Primary school in Kwa-Zulu Natal. The guests were treated to a traditional celebration of dancing and a splendid meal prepared by the locals in appreciation of the Library stocked with books. The area, which is remote and rural, recently received attention as a result of the Old Mutual Joberg2C mountain bike race across South Africa - a nine-day 900km riding adventure, which starts in Johannesburg and traverses through some of the most spectacular rural parts of Johannesburg down to Scottsborough on the Kwa-Zulu Natal coast.

The Qoyintaba container library has been funded through the generous donation from The Hytec Group of companies who had several individuals entered in the race under the Participate for Good campaign, which has its roots in raising funds from people who enter into various sporting events and adventures.

“Entrants to the race simply register as a charity champion on the website; www.participateforgood.com select the target they are aiming for and then start collecting as much as they can, while having fun. Sixteen participants for this year’s race have already collected over R496 000. This will allow us to deliver the 3 libraries we have targeted and hopefully start the campaign for the next 3 libraries for 2014.

“The commitment from the local communities to look after the libraries and to make sure we place them where they are most effective will ensure we make a significant impact in the lives of children well into the future,” director of the Old Mutual Joberg2C race, Craig Wapnick? said. “Our Partnership with Mandela Day Schools project of Participate for Good campaign is in line with how we hope to get the local communities uplifted. If you look at the impact this one mountain bike race has had for these communities you soon get to realise its potential.”

The library is the 28th container to be delivered as part of the partnership between the Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory and Cape Town based NGO Breadline Africa. Each container library is restored from an old shipping container with insulation, flooring, window, doors and lighting to accommodate more than 3 000 books. The Rotary Foundation is the primary source of books in the Participate for Good container campaign and a welcome partner.


“The libraries give an opportunity to children, many of whom hardly ever see a reading book, to come into contact with picture and story books and to enter the wonderful world of reading for the first time,” Tim Smith, Director of Breadline Africa said. “Through the generosity of companies and donors, we’ve reached approximately 18 000 children in nine provinces.”

For more information on how to get involved or donate visit www.participaterforgood.com or www.joberg2c.co.za. . Mandela Day www.mandeladay.com is an initiative of the Nelson Mandela Foundation. For more information contact info@46664bangles.com or 0860 946664.
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