Nelson Mandela International Day

Nelson Mandela International Day History

Nelson Mandela International Day is an annual observance to mark the birthday of the late South African leader Nelson Mandela. The day aims to inspire people to take action and make a positive impact in their communities and the world around them, following the example of Mandela's lifelong commitment to social justice, human rights, and reconciliation.

The initiative was launched by the United Nations General Assembly in 2009, with the aim of honoring Mandela's achievements and encouraging people to emulate his values and dedication to service. The UN declared that Mandela's birthday would be celebrated as an international day of commemoration, calling on individuals and organizations to dedicate 67 minutes of their time to public service in honor of Mandela's 67 years of service to humanity.

In the UK, the day is marked by a range of events and activities, including volunteering opportunities, community projects, and educational initiatives. The Nelson Mandela Foundation also organizes various events and campaigns around the world to promote Mandela's legacy and inspire global solidarity for social justice and human rights. Nelson Mandela International Day is observed annually on July 18th.

Facts about Nelson Mandela International Day

• Nelson Mandela had six children.
• Nelson Mandela was sentenced to life in prison and ended up spending over 27 years in prison. He was eventually released from prison due to secret talks he had with the president of South Africa at the time, F.W. de Klerk.
• Mandela returned to the UK for the first time after his release from prison in 1990, and addressed a crowd of over 70,000 people at a concert held in his honor at Wembley Stadium.
• Nelson Mandela had a special bond with the city of Glasgow, as it was the first city in the world to award him the Freedom of the City in 1981 while he was still in prison.

In the News and Trending in the UK for Nelson Mandela International Day

Top things to do in the UK for this observance

• Devote 67 minutes of your day to helping others (volunteering, helping mom, cleaning, etc.). For 67 years, Nelson Mandela fought for humanity and on every July 18th, Mandela's birthday, the UN and the NMF ask citizens of the world to devote 67 minutes of time to helping others.
• Nominate someone or an organization that you think serves every day. If you think they make a positive change in your community you can nominate those you think deserve acknowledgement as a Madiba Change Maker by sharing their stories on social media with the hashtag #Time2Serve.
• Watch Winnie Mandela (2011). This film focuses on the life of Winnie Mandela, Nelson Mandela's wife and an important figure in the struggle against apartheid.
• Read Long Walk to Freedom: The Autobiography of Nelson Mandela by Nelson Mandela. This is the most comprehensive account of Mandela's life, written by the man himself.