Jacaranda FM And The Do More Foundation Raise R1,7 Million for Climate-Resilient Early Childhood Development Centres This Mandela Day
GLM TEAM 
In celebration of Mandela Day 2025, Jacaranda FM, building on 20 years of its Good Morning Angels initiative, has joined forces with the Do More Foundation to raise an incredible R1,7 million in support of upgrading Early Childhood Development centres across South Africa, giving young children in vulnerable communities the safe, climate-resilient spaces they need to thrive.
This year’s Mandela Month campaign set out with a bold but simple goal: raise R20,000 per centre to fully upgrade as many ECD centres as possible, benefitting an average of 50 children per centre in regions including Boksburg, Rustenburg, and Nkomazi.
Jacaranda FM called on listeners to donate via its website toward full “centre packs,” a comprehensive upgrade kit designed to create safer, smarter environments for learning and play. Each centre pack includes shade and fruit trees for natural cooling and food security, emergency rain cover and weatherproof materials, child-friendly water harvesting solutions, safe outdoor play kits and resources that enable indoor and outdoor learning year-round.
This Mandela Day, Jacaranda FM raised an incredible R877,000 in cash donations (including incredible contributions of R308,000 from ABSA and R200,000 from Spar). The Good Morning Angels Fund added an additional R123,000 to round up the donation to R1,000,000, enabling the Do More Foundation to upgrade 50 ECDs, creating a lasting impact on the lives of approximately 2500 children.
Significant contributions from corporate sponsors also amounted to R700,000 in additional assistance for the Do More Foundation. Spar, in addition to their cash donation, generously donated blankets to the various ECDs, valued at R300,000. Knittex supplied 1,000 meters of shade-netting, valued at R100,000, and Tupperware Africa donated 2,000 Tupperware baby bottles and 1,000 replacement teats, worth R300,000. In total, R1,7 million in assistance was donated to the Do More Foundation this Mandela Day.
“Creating safer, more dignified spaces for our youngest learners is one of the most meaningful ways we can honour Mandela’s legacy,” says Vuyani Dombo, Managing Director at Jacaranda FM. “At Jacaranda FM, we believe in using our platform to drive change that lasts and that starts with giving children the chance to learn, play, and grow in environments that support their potential. This campaign is proof of what we can achieve when community, compassion, and purpose come together.”
“This partnership with Jacaranda FM and Good Morning Angels has been a powerful reminder of what’s possible when people come together with heart and purpose,” adds Warren Farrer, CEO at the Do More Foundation. “The support we’ve received will enable us to transform early childhood centres into safer, more climate-resilient spaces, giving young children the chance to learn, play and grow in environments that truly protect and nurture them. We are deeply grateful to every listener and supporter who chose to do more this Mandela Day. Your generosity is helping us lay the foundation for lasting change in the lives of children and communities.”
Across South Africa, thousands of young children attend informal ECD centres with no shade, no playgrounds, and no protection from extreme heat or flooding. These vulnerable centres are run by passionate caregivers who open their doors each day so that local children have somewhere to learn, play, and feel safe.
Without support, many of these children are overheating in unsafe structures during class, playing on scorching or muddy grounds without shelter, missing out on early stimulation and outdoor learning and experiencing dehydration, illness, and discomfort.
This fundraising initiative forms part of Jacaranda FM’s ongoing commitment to community upliftment, sustainable development, and helping South Africa’s youngest learners grow up in environments that are safe, stimulating, and future-focused.
For two decades, Good Morning Angels has been the heart of Jacaranda FM’s community outreach, consistently demonstrating the profound power of radio to unite people for good. Through countless individual stories of triumph over adversity and significant fundraising efforts like this Mandela Day campaign, Good Morning Angels has proven to be a vital platform for hope, directly impacting thousands of lives.
About The Author
Subscribe To Our Weekly Newsletter
