On the occasion of the 93rd anniversary of Nelson Mandela’s birthday on Monday, the founding father of the nation’s sent a worldwide proposal for anyone/everyone to spend 67 minutes of time helping others, according to the values defended by the former President of South Africa. These 67 minutes are the years he devoted to his fight for multiracial democracy. The name is “Mandela Day” which is now recognized by the UN.
As part of events often sponsored by the media or trade unions, South Africans were required to clean or repaint schools, orphanages and hospices, repair dilapidated shacks in the slums, distribute help packages to the poor, donate blood, etc.. Many politicians of all persuasions have done their good deed by Monday. Some had already started during the weekend.
The Secretary-General of the UN Ban Ki-moon, has expanded the operation, calling on all citizens of the world also devote 67 minutes of their time doing good. “Everyone remembers an inspirational figure who played an important role in our lives. Nelson Mandela became a role model for countless people worldwide. (…) The best way to thank Nelson Mandela for his work is by acting together for others and inspire change, “he said in a statement.
In all schools in South Africa at precisely 8:05, more than 12 million children sang, more or less successfully, a “Happy Birthday” specially Africanized for the occasion by a local composer. Radio and television stations were broadcasting the song, while locals were invited to sing the chorus.
“As the first president of a free and democratic society in South Africa, he laid the foundations for a truly non-racial, non-sexist, democratic and prosperous South Africa,” said President Jacob Zuma in his greeting message , concluding with a resounding “Happy Birthday, Madiba. We love you!”