VOLUNTEERING BY KOKETSO MAMABOLO
How you can give back this festive season
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hristmas and the New Year are around the corner and while for many it has been a year of recovery, there are many who will need a helping hand. Throughout the year, there are opportunities to offer up your time to help those in need, and if you have not done so already, the festive season is a perfect time for you to start making a difference. Here are some organisations you can donate your time or money to and bring some cheer to others.
NATIONAL SEA RESCUE INSTITUTE (NSRI) The South African festive season falls right at the beginning of summer which will see tens of thousands of people flocking to the country’s beautiful beaches, as well as rivers and dams. A key feature of safety programmes during the festive season are drowning prevention programmes, with the NSRI leading the way with its three core programmes.
54 | Public Sector Leaders | December 2023/ January 2024
One of those programmes is the award-winning Pink Rescue Buoy initiative, which began In 2017. “Placed strategically on signs at selected inland rivers, dams and at beaches, these bright pink buoys act as a reminder to take care if there are no lifeguards on duty, and that in the event of someone getting into difficulty in the water, they can be used as emergency flotation until help arrives. Their bright pink colour allows them to be easily seen,” says the NSRI.
