The United Nations on Thursday marked the Nelson Mandela International Day, celebrating the South African leader’s 95th birthday with its members of staff volunteering their time to help rebuild homes destroyed by Hurricane Sandy last fall in New York.
The world body also honoured Mandela’s dedication to public service, social justice and reconciliation as well as his role inspiring millions of people around the globe.
It also joined a call by the Nelson Mandela Foundation to “Take Action, Inspire Change” to volunteer 67 minutes to help others by volunteering in a hospital, tutoring a child, providing food for the homeless, or any other community service.
The “67-minutes: campaign is based on people devoting one minute of their time for every year that Mandela devoted to public service, as a human rights lawyer, a prisoner of conscience, an international peacemaker and the first democratically-elected President of post-apartheid South Africa.
Also, the UN General Assembly’s special meeting to mark the Day is ongoing.
A statement by the UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-Moon, said: “This year’s commemoration of Nelson Mandela International Day comes at a moment of deep reflection on the life and work of Madiba, as the universally revered leader remains in the hospital.
“As we extend our best wishes to President Mandela on his 95th birthday, let us also give tangible meaning to our feelings of concern by taking action on behalf of others.
“The heart of Nelson Mandela International Day is good works for people and the planet. Its theme…is meant to mobilise the human family to do more to build a peaceful, sustainable and equitable world.
“This is the best tribute we can pay to an extraordinary man who embodies the highest values of humanity.”
Ki-Moon added that at this difficult time, his thoughts and prayers are with Mandela, his family and all the people of South Africa.
“We are united in admiration for a giant of our times,” Ki-Moon stressed.
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