Nelson Mandela Day 2011

Nelson Mandela International Day (Mandela Day) was launched in 2009 on Nelson Mandela’s birthday – 18 July., and declared an international day by the United Nations in November 2009. It was inspired by a call Mandela made a year earlier, for the next generation to take on the burden of leadership in addressing the world’s social injustices. “It is in your hands.” 

The overarching objective of Nelson Mandela International Day is to inspire individuals to take action to help change the world for the better, and in doing so build a global movement for good. Ultimately it seeks to empower communities everywhere.

The campaign’s slogan is:  “Take Action; Inspire Change; Make Every Day a Mandela Day.”

Mandela Day is an initiative of the Nelson Mandela Foundation and its sister organisations, and is supported by the 46664 Campaign.  The Foundations role is not to “organise” Mandela Day, but to play a supportive, facilitative role. We work with international institutions, governments, NGOs, business and communities in order to achieve as coherent an approach as possible.

Individuals and organisations are free to participate in Mandela Day as they wish. The Foundation urges all participants to adhere to the ethical framework of “service to one’s fellow human”. The key elements of this framework are:

- Nelson Mandela should not be expected to participate personally.
- His name and image should not be commercialised during or in the promotion of Mandela Day activities.
- Mandela Day efforts should strengthen local resources, both human and material. It is vital that support from sponsors/donors is not sought in ways that divert funding normally available to communities and their non-governmental partners.

See documents:

United Nations Mandela Day DeclarationEthical Framework: Mandela Day

See also:
Frequently Asked Questions on the Nelson Mandela Foundation website.
Nelson Mandela Day 2011 on the Nelson Mandela foundation website.

Source: Nelson Mandela Foundation

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