Mandela Day: Foundation calls for action to tackle global challenges
The Nelson Mandela Foundation calls on all people to use Mandela Day to take responsibility for addressing the world’s challenges.
Mandela Day is built around the idea that each person has the power to transform the world and the ability to make an impact.
The Nelson Mandela Foundation, which leads the charge in celebrating this day, promotes dedicating 67 minutes to helping others—one minute for every year of Mandela’s public service.
Verne Harris, Director of Research and Archive at the Nelson Mandela Foundation, says while significant strides have been made over the years, poverty and inequality persist.
“Everything we do as a foundation now is geared towards addressing poverty and inequity, and we use that word deliberately because we believe that not enough has been done to address the systemic challenges facing so many countries in the world,” he said.
Harris, who also served as Mandela’s archivist from 2004 to 2013, adds that although the charity events are meaningful, the real goal is to turn those initiatives into longer-term efforts to address systemic challenges facing society.