Take action and inspire change on Mandela Day

Communities across the world are affected by the spread of COVID-19, which has hit every economy, causing new social and economic challenges and exacerbating old ones.

Mandela Day is celebrated on 18 July every year. This year, organisers of Mandela Day call on citizens to be ‘active in your community’.

Individually, or as part of one of the millions of groups, they call on citizens to come together to start initiatives around delivering food parcels, making masks and protective gear, teaching online or making donations towards these efforts.

In 2020, it is the day people share the successes they have achieved and the lessons learned from the pandemic, and its effect on those less fortunate than ourselves.

The day was established in 2009 by the UN General Assembly to honour the “promotion and quality of peace” that Nelson Mandela embraced in his life and for which the former South African president fought.

“By becoming someone who makes every day a Mandela Day by taking action against poverty, you can show others that actions speak louder than words,” says Mandela Day organisers.

“Positive change was the gift left to all of us by Nelson Mandela, but it can only become a living legacy if we take up his challenge.”