IN the wake of the fifth edition of Nelson Mandela Day and 20 years of democracy celebration, South Africa’s Deputy President, Kgalema Motlanthe, has officially launched this international day for 2014.
“The time has come to accept in our hearts and minds that with freedom comes responsibility.” – Nelson Mandela, February 1995
The launch of the Nelson Mandela International Day Campaign 2014 at the Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory took place on April 8.
“Nelson Mandela fought for social justice for 67 years of his life. It is not too much to ask that we devote 67 minutes of each day in each year to honour his lifelong legacy. This is a day that inspires all of humanity and reminds us of our public service to each other,” said South Africa’s Deputy President, Kgalema Motlanthe.
Speaking of the day as more that superficial “do-gooding”, the Deputy President described the Mandela Day ethos as building cultures of service that inspire positive change in communities.
From today, change-makers and legacy advocates across the globe will initiate and host activities within their communities in commemoration of Mr Mandela’s lifetime commitment to freedom and service to one’s fellow man. And while each year sees an increase in participation in Mandela Day activities across the planet, the poignant message of this year’s launch event was clear: Make every day a Mandela Day.
The overarching objective of Mandela Day is to inspire individuals to take action to help change the world for the better, and in doing so build a global movement for good.
Ultimately it seeks to empower communities everywhere. “Take Action. Inspire Change. Make Every Day a Mandela
Day.”
Individuals and organisations are free to participate in Mandela Day as they wish.
Fundamentally, Mandela Day creates an opportunity for the “haves” and “have nots” to work together to confront social ills within their communities and to build a better world. It evokes a broader ethos of service that opens Madiba’s legacy to interpretation, where people across the world can apply the theme of service in their own context.
