Hamba Bamba Funda (HBF), together with Heartlines, the City of Johannesburg, The Flower Foundation and Dance Spirit SA, honoured Nelson Mandela at the 67 Fathers and 67 Babies: Hands of Hope – One Equal Tomorrow event held at the Meadowlands Welfare Centre in Zone 9, Soweto, which was also broadcast live to audiences online.
What unfolded was an emotionally impactful gathering that brought fathers, babies, elders, caregivers and community partners into one shared space of connection, healing and hope. The event placed special emphasis on the importance of father–child presence in the earliest years of life. In a world where many children grow up without consistent paternal involvement, this Mandela Day offered fathers an opportunity to be seen, supported and celebrated as essential pillars in early childhood development.
HBF Founder Monja Boonzaier shared three reflections with participants — a collective reminder of why this day matters:
Service and Giving Back – 67 Minutes of Action: By simply being present, fathers were already honouring Mandela’s call to serve. Their willingness to show up for their children became an act of service to their families and their community.
Community, Unity and Shared Humanity: Mandela believed deeply in Ubuntu — I am because we are. Today demonstrated this truth. Fathers, babies, elders, caregivers and partners rose together, reminding us that connection is the foundation of collective strength.
Hope, Justice and the Ongoing Work for Equality: Mandela Day reminds us that dignity and opportunity remain a struggle for many families. This is why HBF created this event: to bring quality learning opportunities to families in Soweto and to strengthen father–child connection where it matters most.
A core part of HBF’s work is nurturing relational safety between caregiver and child. Today, that work centred on fathers. Fathers are more than providers. Babies need nappies, food and shelter — but without love, presence and emotional safety, a child carries wounds that last a lifetime. Emotional neglect is one of the deepest traumas a child can experience and one of the hardest to heal. This is why HBF works in underserved communities: to strengthen connection, presence and relational safety from the very beginning.
The programme reflected this mission. Participants watched the Still Face demonstration (created by Dr Edward Tronick), and caregivers from HBF projects led song and movement with their babies, filling the room with warmth and shared joy.
Emmanuel Sowah from Dance Spirit SA led a beautiful dance session for fathers and babies, igniting the room with energy and delight — babies standing on their fathers’ toes to dance, and even retired residents from the Flower Foundation and Maxhaven Retirement Home joining in.
Pieter van der Westhuizen facilitated a practical skills session on planting vegetables in recycled materials, offering fathers sustainable ways to support their families. Five fathers received starter packs to begin growing their own vegetables at home.
The day concluded with a screening of Heartlines’ film Playing Dad, a moving reminder of the transformative power of father–child connection.
This rich and meaningful programme was made possible through the generosity of our sponsors and partners: Heartlines – Fathers Matter, The City of Johannesburg, FERC (Food Evolution and Research Centre), The Flower Foundation, Dance Spirit SA, Doorway to Dignity, Enviromall, The Aloe Farm, The Heart Foundation, Edits and Credits, and our dedicated Cameraman.
We extend heartfelt gratitude to everyone who joined us online, and a special thank you to the Chava Shelhav Child’Space Association for giving the event international presence.
We honoured Nelson Mandela not only through action, but through connection — one father, one baby, one moment at a time.