Make every day a Mandela Day
Madiba called on the next generation to take on the burden of leadership.
![](https://images.caxton.co.za/wp-content/uploads/sites/52/2015/07/madiba-sketch_800__634419821.jpg)
NELSON Mandela International Day was launched in 2009, via a unanimous decision of the UN General Assembly, in recognition of Nelson Mandela’s birthday on July 18.
It was inspired by a call Nelson Mandela made a year earlier, for the next generation to take on the burden of leadership in addressing the world’s social injustices, when he said: “It is in your hands now.”
It is more than a celebration of Madiba’s life and legacy. It is a global movement to honour his life’s work and act to change the world for the better.
The message behind Mandela Day is simple – each individual has the ability and the responsibility to change the world for the better. If each one of us heeded the call to do good every day, we would be living Nelson Mandela’s legacy and helping to build the country of our dreams.
Nelson Mandela followed three rules throughout his life, which he did at great personal sacrifice: Free yourself; free others; serve every day.
Mandela Day is a global call to action for citizens of the world to take up the challenge and follow in the formidable footsteps of Madiba, a man who transformed his life, served his country and freed his people. Its objective is to inspire individuals to take action to help change the world for the better.
The question we must ask ourselves is: What we are doing to make the world a better place? What are we doing to make every day a Mandela Day?