Nelson Mandela International Day – July 18th

Nelson Mandela International Day – July 18th

Nelson Mandela turned a 27-year prison sentence, for opposing apartheid in South Africa, into a global legacy for reconciliation and social justice. His name was an international symbol for equality and resistance against oppression. Below is one of his famous quotes and two fun-facts;

1.     "No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite."

2.     Mandela voted for the first time in 1994 at the age of 75 in the presidential election that he won - to become the first black president of South Africa.

3.     Mandela was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993 for opposing apartheid, advocating human rights, and promoting national reconciliation despite a long imprisonment.

Even after stepping down from politics after one term as president, Mandela continued humanitarian work and established the Nelson Mandela Foundation. Mandela's enduring legacy exemplifies the transformative power of hope, the strength found in unwavering perseverance, and the profound impact of forgiveness in healing a divided nation. He died peacefully in 2013 in his home in Johannesburg at the ripe age of 95.

Source: About the Nelson Mandela Foundation – Nelson Mandela Foundation 

Contributor: George Chege

Date: 06/16/2024