Today is the second annual Nelson Mandela day, which takes place every July 18, Mandela’s birthday. Mandela turns 93 today.
Via Mandela Day:
What is Mandela Day?
Mandela Day is a call to action for individuals – for people everywhere – to take responsibility for changing the world into a better place, one small step at a time, just as Mr Mandela did for more than 67 years. Start by devoting 67 minutes to community service on Mandela Day, on July 18 each year, and then make every day your Mandela Day by doing some good for others.
What is the significance of the call to devote 67 minutes to community service?
Mr Mandela spent more than 67 years serving his community, his country and the world. The number is symbolic of how people can start to do the same – one small step at a time – and so become part of a continuous, global movement for good.
Are there specific tasks people need to carry out?
To become part of the Mandela Day movement, all that is required is an action that helps change the lives of people for the better. To ensure that their actions have lasting effects, people should strive to leave behind not just physical changes, but also a sense of empowerment, helping to build pride among communities so they can take charge of their destinies and change their circumstances. The cumulative actions of people, even if these begin with one small step, can gain a transformative momentum.
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Via Wikipedia:
Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, born 18 July 1918), served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999, and was the first South African president to be elected in a fully representative democratic election. Before his presidency, Mandela was an anti-apartheid activist, and the leader of Umkhonto we Sizwe, the armed wing of the African National Congress (ANC). In 1962 he was arrested and convicted of sabotage and other charges, and sentenced to life in prison. Mandela served 27 years in prison, spending many of these years on Robben Island. Following his release from prison on 11 February 1990, Mandela led his party in the negotiations that led to multi-racial democracy in 1994. As president from 1994 to 1999, he frequently gave priority to reconciliation.
In South Africa, Mandela is often known as Madiba, his Xhosa clan name; or as tata (Xhosa: father). Mandela has received more than 250 awards over four decades, including the 1993 Nobel Peace Prize.
Read Nelson Mandela’s full biography at the Nelson Mandela Foundation.