Foundation: Make every day a Mandela Day
The Nelson Mandela Foundation is inviting all South Africans and citizens of the world, to use Nelson Mandela International Day, as a renewal of commitment, to making a sustainable difference in the lives of those less fortunate.
The foundation calls on people to reflect on words from Nelson Mandela, spoken at Walter Sisulu's 90th birthday celebration where he said "What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead."
Foundation Chief Executive Sello Hatang is urging those taking part in Mandela Day activities to continue their efforts well beyond July 18 in the quest to make every day a Mandela Day.
This year's theme is: Taking #ActionAgainstPoverty.
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"Today allows us to recommit ourselves to taking action and inspiring change so that we can make every day a Mandela Day. As we go out to plant gardens, build houses or feed pupils, we must know that it does not stop there; July 18 is the start of taking action, not the end," says Hatang.
"We want South Africans and people around the world to commit to long-term, sustainable projects that will tackle poverty, " he adds.
Hatang says the foundation has adopted the theme #ActionAgainstPoverty this year, as a firm call for meaningful intervention in the lives of those facing poverty and inequality every day.
"Poverty and inequality are eroding the foundations of the democratic and just society that Madiba fought so hard to establish, and for which he laid the building blocks. Unless we tackle poverty, on a sustained and committed basis, Nelson Mandela's dream of a better life for all will remain just a pipe dream," says Hatang.