Freedom Day
On the 27th of April every year South Africans celebrate freedom day. This is in commemoration of the first post-apartheid elections held in South Africa in 1994, which saw Nelson Mandela become South Africa's first freely elected president. 
Here in the Crags on the Garden Route of South Africa, Birds of Eden, the biggest free flight Aviary in the world, celebrated both Freedom Day and the coming of the 2010 World Cup Soccer with the release of 32 new bird species to the existing 280 into the aviary. This brought the total bird count up to over 3000 birds!
The idea behind the 32 species is to represent the 32 countries competing in the 2010 soccer world cup. The bird releases were carried out by underpriviliged children, various NGO's and tourism bodies, releasing birds every five to ten minutes. Early morning the SABC crew were there, providing a LIVE feed for the Morning Live show, for the rest of South Africa to see.
Starling Backpackers in Plettenberg Bay did their bit, by sponsoring a night's festivities and a sleepover of 45 underpriviliged children, cared for by New Life ministries, which forms part of Amazon Charities. Italy was their theme and the young children were shuttled to the event early morning from the backpackers.
'Claude', famous local opera singer and teacher, made the moment special by performing the Italian National anthem with a little bit of 'Pavarotti' spice.
New Life ministries cares for abandoned and orphaned kids from the townships of KwanoKuthula and Bossiesgif in Plettenberg Bay.
Michelle Smith, a missionary from New Life explains they run an after school care centre in Bossiesgif as well as a baby shelter for abandoned children under 4 years of age. Michelle says they are in dire need of Volunteers to help out with after care for the organisation. Should you be interested in becoming a volunteer please contact Michelle at michelle4africa@yahoo.com or if you feel you would like to donate towards the cause, please follow this link.
Representing Denmark and Germany were 'The Green Ticket', a Non Profit Organisation aimed to promote environmental awareness through reforestation and carbon sequestration initiatives.