Nelson Mandela Day

The unbiased leader, Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, selflessly fought for the rights of black people. He spent 27 years in jail and after being released, he became the first black president of South Africa. His bravery speaks volumes louder about the power of facing struggles gracefully. In this blog, we will profoundly explore Nelson Mandela Day, which is celebrated every year on 18th July to honour his legacy.

“If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart.” -Nelson Mandela

Check out the Education of Nelson Mandela

Facts About Nelson Mandela

• His birth name was Rolihlahla Mandela. The name “Nelson” was given by his primary school teacher.
• He continued his activism from prison. He mentored the prisoners and taught them about nonviolent resistance. 
• He was a consistent symbol of the anti-apartheid movement.
• He believed that sport “has the power to change the world… it has the power to inspire. It has the power to unite people in a way that little else does. It speaks to youth in a language they understand. Sport can create hope where once there was only despair. It is more powerful than the government in breaking down racial barriers.”
• He was 76 years old when he voted in an election in 1994. The same year he was elected president of South Africa. 

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Why do we Celebrate Nelson Mandela Day?

It is indeed a moment of honour when your legacy is commemorated even after death. Few people can reach this level. Nelson Mandela was one of those great personalities-

• Every year Nelson Mandela Day is celebrated on 18th June to honour the legacy of a legendary leader who brought about a revolution in the 20th and 21st centuries. This day is an opportunity for everyone to reflect upon themselves and imbibe the values of Nelson Mandela like courage, forgiveness, altruism, patience, and self-confidence.
• Nelson Mandela was a man of ethics, who lived a life beyond himself and devoted it to the upliftment of others. That speaks volumes louder that he had a heart of gold and a noble character.
• It is time for youth to pause and reflect upon their values and their involvement in community service. They must introspect how involved they are in making this world a better place and spreading happiness around themselves.
• Mandela Day is a worldwide call to action that celebrates the idea that each individual has the power to change the world, the ability to make a difference.

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How is Nelson Mandela Day Celebrated?

Nelson Mandela day is not celebrated as a public holiday. Nelson Mandela day is celebrated in a unique and impactful manner, which is elucidated below-

• Every year on July 18, Nelson Mandela International Day is observed. The United Nations officially declared Mandela Day in 2009 with a resolution in the General Assembly, and the first UN Mandela Day was held on July 18, 2010.
• Just like Mandela fought for social justice for 67 years, people are encouraged to devote their 67 minutes on this day to community service and volunteering activities.
• Proactive involvement of heaps of people in such activities would make this world a better and peaceful place to live.
• The UN General Assembly established the Nelson Mandela Prize in 2014, a quinquennial award recognizing those who have dedicated their lives to the service of humanity.

To deny people their human rights is to challenge their very humanity. -Nelson Mandela

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Nelson Mandela Day 2021 Theme

Nelson Mandela Day is observed every year with a unique theme. The theme for the year 2021 is driven by the motive of tackling the food insecurity problem. The theme of this year is “One hand can feed another.” This year, people can conduct food donation drives to feed needy people and the motive behind this is no one should go to sleep empty stomach.

That was all about Nelson Mandela Day. We hope that you all are fuelled by inspiration to commit yourselves to community service. For more blogs like these, stay tuned to Leverage Edu.