Nelson Mandela Day inspires action and celebrations across the world
The THIRD annual Nelson Mandela Day was celebrated across the world on the occasion of his 94th birthday on 18 July.
It was a day that honoured the former South African President’s significant contributions to democracy and racial justice and his commitment to peace and reconciliation.
Events to mark the occasion at the UN headquarters in New York included speeches by top UN officials and a special performance by two South African students at the University of Cape Town Opera School.
For the fourth time since 2009, the UN encouraged individuals around the world to devote 67 minutes towards helping others – whether by assisting in hospitals, tutoring children or any other activity to benefit the most vulnerable in society.
“Take action, inspire change – make every day a Mandela Day,” said UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon in his message.
“Nelson Mandela gave 67 years of his life to bring change to the people of South Africa. Our gift to him can – and must – be to change our world for the better,” he added.
Ban’s message was echoed in Ireland, where the South African Embassy urged its diaspora to do “something good to change the world for the better, in a small gesture of solidarity with humanity, and in a small step towards a continuous, global movement for good.”
That was exactly what one group of young people in Ireland did by organising a free youth festival called Grasstonbury, aimed at educating people about sustainable energy and the need to use public transport, which was held in Father Collins Park – Ireland’s only sustainable public green space.
The day saw performances from youth bands using musical equipment powered by the wind turbines in the park, as well as a peddle-powered ‘smoothie bike’ and a statue of Nelson Mandela made from old newspapers.
Speaking at the event, Ambassador Jeremiah Ndou urged young people to emulate Mandela’s legacy.
“Mandela often calls on all young people to do something, even something small, to make the world a better place.”
He stressed the historic links between South Africa and Ireland and highlighted former Dunnes Stores worker Mary Manning’s anti-apartheid activism in the 1980s as an example of directly connected local and global actions that supported change in South Africa.
