By Kevin Basterman and Lesego Madihlaba
Mandela Day serves as a powerful reminder that collective action, no matter how small, can drive real, lasting impact. This year, FleishmanHillard South Africa had the privilege of making this philosophy tangible, partnering with the SAME Foundation for a meaningful initiative at Letsibogo Girls ICT School of Specialisation in Soweto.
Armed with PPE and paintbrushes, we stepped into the classrooms not just to brighten the walls, but to invest in an environment that inspires learning, confidence, and possibility. What started as an act of service quickly became something much more profound – a story told in colour and effort, in teamwork and intention.
As we dipped our brushes into paint, a sense of purpose began to stir. Each stroke was a reminder that we were actively restoring life to spaces dulled by time and use. Just as we smoothed over uneven patches and filled in missed spots, we found ourselves stepping in for one another, moving as a unit, and pouring care into every corner until the walls felt whole again. In many ways, this mirrored the educational journey itself – requiring patience, intentionality, and the collective commitment to nurture every learner’s growth.
The experience made us reflect on the deeper impact of our actions. A mark on a wall isn’t just paint- it is proof of time given, effort shared, and a commitment to brighter outcomes. Like teachers reinforcing ideas and shaping confidence in their students, our work was an act of kindness that might travel far beyond what we can see, making both learners and educators feel seen and supported.
As interns, being part of something so grounded in purpose was both humbling and empowering. It reminded us that the social issues we hear about aren’t distant. They’re present in our daily lives, and meaningful change is possible when we unite, whether as individuals or as a team. That kind of unity is what Madiba stood for.
Tata Madiba once said, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” Transformative education doesn’t happen by accident; it takes time, care, and intention to create environments where learners can become who they are meant to be. Building a better South Africa requires us all to tend to the parts of society that need care and attention, revisiting the foundations that will shape our shared future.
As we left the classrooms that day, we carried more than just traces of paint on our hands- we left with renewed purpose in our hearts. Mandela Day 2025 showed us that impactful storytelling often begins with thoughtful action. As an intentional communications firm, that is the kind of purposeful investment we strive to make -one brushstroke, one story, one future at a time.
