Twitter guide to Mandela Day

Remember the spirit of Mandela Day is not about massive projects designed to overwhelm but about using the little that one has to give towards a bigger cause. Whether you want to build awareness, work towards food sustainability, literacy and education, give in acts of service or infrastructure projects you can find a project that will appeal to your ability.

Why not give your blood to @theSANBS anytime during the month-long Blood Awareness Drive. The South African National Blood Service @theSANBS is appealing to South Africans to help replenish diminishing supplies and by giving your blood, you are giving someone a chance to live.

Living in Africa dictates that we never forget that hunger is a reality for many South Africans and you can follow @lead_sa to find food distribution initiatives that you can be a part of. For example, you can help @stophungernowsa to package 1 million meals in four 67-minute shifts and then help distribute these across one of three cities. These meals will feed 5000 children for one year.

Join @GiftoftheGivers on its visit to an orphanage to help clean up facilities in hospitals and anything else that can come up. Do not forget to bring along toys and books for the children. If you are a builder, can paint or are generally good with tools, gather some friends to paint or fix your local school or someone's home. In a township between Strand and Somerset West in the Western Cape, Project Zola will be piloted by the @NelsonMandela Foundation where special fire retardant paint will be applied on more than 67 homes to help subdue spread of shack fires in that area.

There are many more projects out there that you can be a part of such as giving a little time to mentor someone in your community, donate books, teach an adult class. All you need to do is go on Twitter and search #MandelaDay to find out what people in your social circles, local clubs or company are doing and join the masses.

For more sustained support - why not sign up your preferred charity, environmental organisation, school to @MySchoolSA to contribute a portion every time you swipe your card. Do not forget to use #MandelaDay to share your experiences and views on what giving meant for you.