Courage to Care Day 2026 | 16 – 22 September 2026

What if changing someone’s day was as simple as making a sandwich?

What if a few stationery items could help a learner feel ready for school?

What if one jar filled with basic ingredients could provide a warm meal for a family?

Sometimes the smallest acts of kindness make the biggest difference.

That is what Courage to Care Day is all about.

What is Courage to Care Day?

Courage to Care Day is an annual MOT campaign that celebrates kindness, compassion and service. It is a day where learners, educators and communities are encouraged to show care, love and support to others through meaningful acts of kindness.

Inspired by the spirit of service championed by Nelson Mandela, Courage to Care Day reminds us that every person can make a positive difference in someone else’s life.

More importantly, it brings one of MOT’s core values to life: Courage to Care.

At MOT, we believe that courage is not only about standing up for yourself or overcoming challenges. Courage is also choosing to care. It is taking the time to help someone who needs support, showing compassion when it is easier to walk away, and making a conscious decision to leave your community better than you found it.

Because when young people choose to care, they don’t just change lives; they help create the warmer and safer society that MOT envisions.

Courage to Care Day 2026

This year, schools across our MOT network are invited to take part in the Courage to Care Campaign from 16 to 22 September 2026.

Throughout the week, schools will identify a beneficiary and carry out a project that allows learners to actively make a difference in their communities.

Whether that means packing hygiene packs, creating Jars of Hope, making sandwiches for a feeding scheme, collecting stationery for a child in need, or spending time with senior citizens, every act of kindness counts.

More Than Just Collecting Donations

This campaign is not about who can collect the most items.

It is not about who spends the most money.

It is about getting involved.

It is about learners stepping up, working together, and experiencing first-hand what it means to care for others.

We want learners to be part of the journey, from collecting and packing items to writing messages of encouragement, visiting beneficiaries and participating in handovers.

A project involving ten learners can be just as meaningful as a project involving a hundred.

The goal is simple:

See a need. Take action. Make a difference.

Project Ideas

Schools can choose a project that speaks to their learners and community, including:

• Basic Needs Packs: Helping individuals and families with essential hygiene items.
• Baby Care Packs: Supporting babies and young children with much-needed care products.
• Jars of Hope: Creating a simple meal-in-a-jar that can provide a warm meal for up to six people.
• Food Parcel Challenge: Working together to support families facing food insecurity.
• Sandwich-Making Day: Providing ready-to-eat meals for shelters and feeding programmes.
• Back-to-School Packs: Ensuring learners have basic stationery to support their education.
• Senior Citizen Care Projects: Spending time with residents through companionship, performances, pamper sessions, gardening and acts of service.
• … Or create your own project and show us how your school is spreading kindness in your community.

Courage to Care Day teaches young people that making a difference does not require extraordinary resources. It simply requires a willing heart and the courage to care.

So gather your classmates, choose a project, find a beneficiary and get ready to make an impact.

Because kindness is powerful, and caring is courage in action.

Stay up to date with MOT SA

Read about our 2024 Courage to Care Day Campaign here

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