Mandela Day 2014: Free yourself, free others and serve every day

From today, change makers and legacy advocates across the globe will initiate and host activities within their communities in commemoration of Mandela's lifetime commitment to freedom and service to one's fellow man. While each year sees an increase in participation in Mandela Day activities across the globe, the poignant message of this year's launch event was clear...

Make every day a Mandela Day

Nelson Mandela Foundation CEO Sello Hatang highlighted the significance of Mandela Day as an event that honours South Africa's late statesman and provides an opportunity for all to emulate his role as a public servant.

"Mandela Day is not only about doing good, but about service. It is an opportunity to build upon Mandela's lifelong belief that we must live to serve every day, in whatever we do," he said.

This year's Mandela Day launch is particularly symbolic in that it offers South Africans, and the world, an occasion to honour the ethos of the late Mandela in the year that marks South Africa's 20th year of democracy.

Professor Njabulo Ndebele, Chairperson of the Nelson Mandela Foundation, spoke about the positive impact such an event can have, saying, "As part of a global community, South Africa can position itself as a shining example of what can happen when people come together to address social injustices and do good."

One man's vision and journey provided the world's change makers with an opportunity to positively impact their communities, spirited by the belief that we live to serve every day. Indeed, Mandela's willingness to give up everything for freedom, equality, democracy and justice itself embodies the values of the United Nations, those of peace, freedom and human rights, and inspired the formal adoption of the Mandela Day campaign by the UN General Assembly in 2009.

"We celebrate his life as we endeavour to make peace a way of life around the world," said Dr Agostino Zacarias, the United Nation's Resident Co-ordinator.

Fundamentally, Mandela Day creates an opportunity for the 'haves' and 'have-nots' to work together to confront social ills within their communities and build a better world. It evokes a broader ethos of service that opens Madiba's legacy to interpretation, where people across the world can apply the theme of service in their own context.

"Nelson Mandela fought for social justice for 67 years of his life. It is not too much to ask that we devote 67 minutes of each day in each year to honour his lifelong legacy. This is a day that inspires all of humanity and reminds us of our public service to each other," said South Africa's Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe.

Speaking about the day as more than superficial 'do-gooding', the deputy president described the Mandela Day ethos as building cultures of service that inspire positive change in communities.

Themes for Nelson Mandela International Day 2014

My wish is that South Africans never give up in the belief in goodness, that they cherish that faith in human beings as a cornerstone of our democracy.

The most vulnerable community members in any country are those who are hungry, those without adequate housing, and those who cannot read or write. Indeed, being deprived of life's basic necessities is to be deprived of one's dignity and one's humanity.

This year, the Nelson Mandela Foundation has identified key themes for Mandela Day activations around the world, namely: education and literacy; shelter and food security; and participation through volunteerism.

Nelson Mandela left the world's citizens a simple instruction:

"It is in your hands now"

He said: "When a man has done what he considers to be his duty to his people and his country, he can rest in peace. I believe I have made that effort and that is, therefore, why I will sleep for the eternity."

Today we challenge all members of the global community to participate in 'making every day a Mandela Day'.

As we remember the late iconic public servant, Nelson Mandela, this message is clear - each individual has the ability and responsibility to impact positive change every day.

Let's spread the message of hope and action together.