Mandela Day at Hyde Park Corner is all about Dogs, Scarves and Second Chances
Hyde Park Corner is giving Mandela Day a powerful new voice. One that barks. From Wednesday, 9 to Sunday, 20 July, the Centre Court will be home to a remarkable tribute that brings together warmth, compassion and real impact.
In conjunction with 67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela Day, Woodrock Animal Rescue, Sandton SPCA and Absolute Pets, Hyde Park Corner is driving a campaign not only raises awareness of the plight of some of our furry friends but invites real action. At the heart of it all is a striking 3-metre-high dog installation, wrapped in a vibrant scarf and surrounded by stories that matter.
Adoption drive in partnership with Woodrock Animal Rescue and Sandton SPCA
On a large screen next to the giant dog, visitors will meet dozens of dogs currently cared for by Woodrock Animal Rescue. Each one is available for adoption. Each one needs a home. Shoppers can also contribute R67 to feed a shelter dog for a month, a small sum with a big outcome.
Hyde Park Corner is showing their support for the Sandton SPCA this Mandela Day by screening links showcasing dogs in need of homes. Members of the public can visit the shelter between 09h00 and 15h30, Monday to Friday, or from 09h00 to 12h30 on Saturdays. The Sandton SPCA is located at 9th Street, Marlboro Gardens, Johannesburg. Details of animals available for adoption can be found online at www.sandtonspca.org.za
“We want to encourage people not just to support worthy charities but to make meaningful connections,” says Sheree McHaffie, Hyde Park Corner’s Marketing Manager. “We’re asking people to stop, to look into the eyes of these animals and to recognise the life behind them. Whether you adopt, donate or simply spread the word, you are part of something real.”
Designer doggie tents to support animal rescue shelters
Adding a creative touch to the activation, Hyde Park Corner will display a unique range of doggie tents made using designer prints from SA Fashion Week designers:
- Fundudzi by Craig Jacobs
- Ape
- House of Ole
- Sober
- Ezoketho
- The Bam Collective
- Desme Designs
- Imprint
- Renaissance
- Isabelle de Villiers
- Anissa Mpungwe Atelier
- Rubicon
Each tent is available for sale, with all proceeds going directly to animal rescue shelters.
Secret scarves shhh... campaign by 67 Blankets
Running alongside the adoption drive is the Secret Scarves Shhh... campaign by 67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela Day. This national tradition turns hand-knitted scarves into gestures of kindness for those in need. From 9 to 20 July, around 667 scarves created by the Morningside Mockingbird KnitWits® will be displayed throughout Centre Court. Each scarf carries the message: “I am not lost, if you are cold and need me, please take me. With love, from 67 Blankets.” The scarves also pay tribute to Gompo, the beloved Rhodesian Ridgeback who brought warmth and joy to Nelson Mandela’s family during their time in Soweto. Of the 667 scarves, 300 scarves will be displayed in Hyde Park Corner’s Centre Court for distribution to communities in need once the expo closes, while the remaining 367 scarves will be donated to the Inner City Project for people living in dire conditions in central Johannesburg by 67 Blankets on July 18.
At 3.30pm on Friday, 18 July, the KnitWits® and members of the public will head into the streets around Hyde Park Corner, including taxi ranks, bus stops and pavements, to hand scarves to those in need. “Everyone is welcome to help,” says 67 Blankets founder Carolyn Steyn. “We do this stitch by stitch, scarf by scarf, hand to hand because that’s how change happens.”
Fundraising campaign by Absolute Pets
Hyde Park Corner tenant Absolute Pets is also getting involved, running a Mandela Day fundraising campaign until 18 July. Customers can choose to add a donation of R10 or R67 to any purchase, in store or online. In return, they will receive stickers showing the value of their donation to place on the dedicated Mandela Day window display. For example, a R97 donation earns one R67 sticker and two R10 stickers. All funds raised will go towards purchasing food, which will then be equally distributed among five animal rescue organisations in Gauteng and surrounding provinces. In addition, Absolute Pets Hyde Park Corner will also contribute a further 67kgs of pet food to the animal rescue centres.
Hyde Park Corner encourages the public to visit the Centre Court, support the various campaigns and reflect on what Mandela Day represents: dignity, kindness and action.
This year, that action just happens to come on four legs and with a wagging tail.