To celebrate and honor Mandela Day, which takes place on Friday, 18th July 2014, Hilton Worldwide will, for the first time, mobilize team members from 13 properties across Africa and the Indian Ocean Islands to give their time in service of others in acknowledgment of the legacy of the late global statesman, Nelson Mandela.
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This year is the first commemoration since the passing of the world renowned icon, and the fifth year since the United Nations adopted the day as an international event, and the message of service to others could not be more relevant for the legacy of ‘Madiba’. The values that he espoused were all about building a better world through generosity of self, and it is in this vein that Hilton Worldwide commemorates Mandela Day.
Jan van der Putten, vice president of operations for Africa and Indian Ocean, Hilton Worldwide, said, “From Nigeria to Namibia, our team members are mobilizing across the region to celebrate Mandela Day with a clean-up operation that has been months in the planning and builds upon Hilton Worldwide’s goal to strengthen communities wherever we operate in the world. Heeding the vision of President Zuma, I am delighted that our team members will be active in their communities by cleaning up public spaces and supporting important local charities.
“The theme is simple for everyone to get involved. It does not matter how small the activity is, as long as the aim is to better our communities, like Madiba did.”
In commemoration of the 67 years that Mandela had been a part of the anti-apartheid movement, participants will build in an element of 67 into their activities, be it through timing, number of activities undertaken or simply as an acknowledgement of this symbolic number in Mandela’s life.
Activity highlights include:
Hilton Sandton, Johannesburg
Team members will be active in their local community cleaning up an area in Alexandra between the hotels adopted schools, Minerva High School and Carter Primary School. In addition, the hotel will build a vegetable garden at Minerva High School in partnership with local charity partners Green Earth Africa and Food & Trees for Africa. To complement this, team members will provide a soup kitchen facility in both schools; as well as educational activities around youth development and careers advice.
Hilton Windhoek, Namibia
During a visit to local charity Baby Haven – which supports orphaned and vulnerable children affected by HIV / Aids – team members will clean-up the charity’s home and extend a garden with new vegetable planting and general maintenance.
Hilton Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Team members of Hilton Addis Ababa will be active in their local community with a clean-up of the area surrounding the hotel.
Hilton Malabo, Equatorial Guinea
Featuring an array of culture awareness and educational activity for team members and the local community, the hotel’s center piece will be a visit to Sacriba to conduct a clean-up and maintenance activity whilst providing cake and juice for local children.
Hilton Nairobi, Kenya
67 team members will volunteer at least 67 minutes of their time to support a clean-up and beatification operation in the local area, in partnership with Nairobi Country Council. To encourage and motivate all those taking part, six team members will read seven famous Nelson Mandela quotes before the hard work begins.
Hilton Yaounde, Cameroon
Team members and the community will clean-up the area immediately around the hotel, as well as work in partnership with local government to help clean and renovate the Mvog-Mbi roundabout.
Transcorp Hilton Abuja, Nigeria
Working with local charity partner, Ace Africa, hotel team members and the community will clean-up and landscape at the Gishiri Community Centre. Trees and flowers will be planted in order to help improve the environment of the community center, as well as a donation of essential food items will be given by the hotel.
Hilton Seychelles Labriz Resort & Spa and DoubleTree by Hilton Seychelles Allamanda Resort & Spa, Seychelles
Team members will spend time with visiting local student, focusing on education and training of caring for the environment followed by a cleanup of the local area.
Hilton Worldwide’s commitment to the Africa and Indian Ocean region, as well as Nelson Mandela’s legacy, were reinforced during a meeting between President Zuma of South Africa and Chris Nassetta, president & CEO, Hilton Worldwide; Rudi Jagersbacher, president, Middle East & Africa, Hilton Worldwide; and Jan van der Putten, vice president operations, Africa & Indian Ocean, Hilton Worldwide.
Activity for Mandela Day will continue in the coming months as Hilton Worldwide prepares for its annual Global Week of Service event which is set to take place from the October 19 2014.
