Barclays Bank Ghana, part of the Absa family, joined the South African High Commission in Ghana to offer some volunteerism activities at the Osu Children’s Home in Accra to commemorate the 10th year anniversary celebration of Nelson Mandela Day.

Staff and volunteers from the two organizations spent half of the day at the orphanage by engaging in some volunteering activities such as clean up exercises, empowerment talks and social good as a way of showing love to the children at the Home.

The Nelson Mandela International Day was instituted by the United Nations General Assembly on July 18, 2009, in remembrance of the lifetime service that Nelson Mandela gave to South Africa, Africa and the world.

Speaking at the event, Head of Citizenship at Barclays Ghana, Mrs. Priscilla Yeboah said the event was to encourage the children to emulate the life and legacies of the Great Madiba.

 “As we celebrate Nelson Mandela Day, I want to encourage you to emulate the life and legacies of the Great Madiba. He was a man of peace. He stood for humanity and respect for the African. He was a great believer in education so I urge you all to take your education seriously and grow to become great people in Africa,” Priscilla Yeboah said.

 According to the South African Deputy High Commissioner to Ghana, His Excellency Thapelo Madumane, they take inspiration from Nelson Mandela’s fight for liberation from social and economic oppression as well as his love for education as a weapon of change.

The High Commission later donated some items such as boxes of water, food and carbonated soft drinks to the Home.

The manageress of Osu Children’s Home, Christiana Addo expressed gratitude to both the South African High Commission and Barclays Bank for showing a kind gesture of this sought to the orphanage.