Today, 92 years ago, Nelson Mandela was born. The Nobel Peace Prize winner who single-handedly changed the course of South Africa‘s history will be honored on his birthday with the second annual Mandela Day, headquartered this year in Madrid. This international day recognized by the United Nations is not only a celebration of his life, but “a global call to action for people to recognize their individual ability to make an imprint and change the world around them.”
Since Mandela has given 67 years of his life fighting for human rights, people are being asked to give 67 minutes of their time today, be it helping a favorite charity or doing something in your community. If you want some suggestions on what to do, the Mandela Day website offers a list of 67 ways you can change the world.
Also important on this day is the number 46664, which was the prisoner number that Mandela had during his more than a quarter century on Robben Island. The number has since been used to designate a series of AIDS charity concerts. Today, the number is serving various means, including as a call for volunteers. To show your support for the movement, you can also purchase a 46664 Bangle and encourage others to do the same.
There are also a number of activities going on around the world. To find out more, go to the Mandela Day website.
Image courtesy of NelsonMandela.org.