Heritage Day is one of the newly created South African public holidays. It is a day in which all are encouraged to celebrate their cultural traditions in the broader context of the great diversity of cultures, beliefs, and traditions that make up the nation of South Africa.

Uzwela Foundation had a busy week preparing for Heritage Day celebrations seeing as we had taken on three projects for the day.

Uitkoms Home for Girls

Uzwela and the Uitkoms Home for Girls teamed up to give back to the community on Heritage Day. We provided the Home with 120 treat packets, which the girls then handed out at a local township. The girls, dressed in traditional outfits, performed dances and handed out the treat packets from Uzwela.

Earlier in the month, Uzwela Foundation’s ambassador, Cayla van Eeden (Miss Junior Teen South Africa 2020), also sponsored four evening dresses for the young ladies to wear at their Matric Farewell dance.

Salvation Army – Benoni

Good ole’ melktert, the Afrikaans name for ‘milk tart’; the classic, South African dessert. Milk tart is omnipresent in South Africa; it appears at every church bazaar, bake sale, home industry, supermarket or bakery and of course just perfect as a treat on Heritage Day. The Uzwela team spent many hours baking the milk tarts and peppermint crisp tarts. Shop-bought just wouldn’t do!

We visited the Salvation Army in Benoni and delivered 150 mini milk tarts to the residents.

Rainbow Cottage

Uzwela also returned to Rainbow Cottage of the St Francis Care Centre to surprise the children with treat packets and 140 mini milk tarts (which they shared with the staff).