Hilton Worldwide Properties Embark On Clean-Up Campaigns in 13 Locations in Honor of Mandela Day

Published on : Thursday, July 17, 2014

Hilton-Worldwide-300x107To 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.

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.

Highlight activity across South Africa includes:

Hilton Sandton, Johannesburg:
Team members will be active in their local community cleaning up Alexandria between the hotels adopted schools, Minerva High School and Carter Primary School.

 

In addition, team members 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, the hotel will provide a soup kitchen facility in both schools; as well as educational activities around youth development and careers advice.

Conrad Pezula, Knysna:
Focusing their efforts on cleaning up Pledge Nature Reserve in central Knysna, team members and members of the local community will be rolling up their sleeves and getting hands dirty with a focus on picking up litter and preserving wildlife.

 

The hotel will sponsor and build various dustbins to provide a lasting legacy in and around the beautiful nature reserve which spans some 10 hectares and has been reclaimed by the local community as a thriving home to many different species.

Hilton Durban, Durban:
With beautiful beaches close by, team members at Hilton Durban will be working alongside local residents to tidy up Durban beachfront – with a competitive challenge of achieving the highest litter collection in 67 minutes between local young people and Hilton team members.

 

In addition, an informative talk will take place as part of a hotel visit by local young people, working with Project Enza and culminating in the unveiling of a special portrait of Nelson Mandela.

Hilton Cape Town City Centre, Cape Town:
In collaboration with the City Council for the Bo Kaap community, Team Members and local residents will join forces to improve a local space and the housing of community members.

The hotel will help with maintenance and a clean-up of local residents in need of support from their community.

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.

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