2021 Mandela Day

Stephen Saad - Aspen Group Chief Executive

In 2021 Aspen participated in the annual Mandela International Day (“Mandela Day”) campaign for the 11th successive year.

Stephen Saad, Aspen Group Chief Executive said, “We have remained committed to the Mandela Day campaign since 2011 and we are humbled to have been able to contribute to this very worthy cause despite the prevailing restrictions brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. Our Mandela Day activities, which are implemented annually across the Group, provide an opportunity for employees to voluntarily participate in initiatives within their communities. This campaign further supports our commitment to respond to the needs of communities in which we operate with efforts more recently focused on responding to public health challenges in the face of the pandemic.”

Despite COVID-19 restrictions, many employees engaged with beneficiary organisations while simultaneously observing pandemic protocols. These restrictions, however, impacted the format of the traditional Mandela Day activities undertaken by our employees, who, as a consequence, creatively identified alternative ways to ensure that Aspen’s commitment to the campaign continued unabated.

The focus of many activities turned to COVID-19 relief, and included, among others, efforts to provide donations to pandemic-support organisations through the likes of life saving medication, personal protective equipment for healthcare professionals and related groups, and going as far as establishing work groups to hand make protective masks for needy communities and feed those serving at the front line. Our employees again demonstrated their commitment towards making a difference in the lives of those who are marginalised in various ways, further endorsing our credo of Healthcare. We Care.

Aspen’s Mandela Day projects cover a broad spectrum of initiatives that include healthcare, nutrition, education, social enhancement and development, infrastructural improvements, animal wellbeing, preserving the environment, and providing employees with the opportunity to show kindness to citizens of all ages from all walks of life.

Since initiating our annual Mandela Day Campaign in 2011, Aspen has impacted the lives of some 880 000 beneficiaries through more than 780 projects hosted across 40 countries.