South Africa, which celebrates today, July 18, as Mandela Day in honor of the life and legacy of Nelson Mandela, is calling upon its citizens to give at least 67 minutes of their time in service to communities in whichever way they choose. This is symbolic of the 67 years of his life that Nelson Mandela has given in service to others. Furthermore, the Nelson Mandela Foundation is calling for Mandela Day to be recognized as an annual international “Day of humanitarian action”. The South African Embassy in the Kingdom has said that Mandela Day is designed to harness the hope and inspiration that Nelson Mandela has brought to the world by galvanizing a global movement for good. In a press release, the embassy said, “This day will be characterized by South Africans taking charge of their own destinies and at the same time, they will be honoring Nelson Mandela by doing good for others. It is hoped that Mandela Day will be a catalyst for individuals and communities to emphasize the values of ‘social cohesion', such as, inclusiveness and respect. Mandela Day is intended to become an annual celebration of Nelson Mandela's life and a global call to action for people to recognize that everyone has the power to change the world around them. The ultimate aim is the creation of a continuous movement for good.”
