It was inspired by a call he made a year earlier for the next generation to take on the burden of leadership in addressing the world’s social injustices, ‘It is in your hands’. During 2009 the UN General Assembly unanimously declared 18 July as ‘Nelson Mandela International Day’.
The overarching objective is to inspire individuals to take action to help change the world for the better, and in doing so build a global movement for good. Ultimately it seeks to empower communities everywhere. Activities should be marked by acts of goodwill in communities and call on participants to donate 67 minutes of their time.
Our CEO, Dr Olive Shisana, called on us to get involved and requested that we make suggestions for getting involved in a community work, rather than just giving money or other useful items. Bridgette Prince is taking the lead in organising the activities, together with the office managers and others.
Please come forward with ideas of how the different offices can get involved in a coordinated effort to do community work. Send your proposals to email: corpcomm@hsrc.ac.za.
How to get involved
Examples of what others have done to commemorate Mandela Day:
- The community of Atteridgeville facilitated reconciliation between perpetrators of violence against non-nationals and their victims.
- New Yorkers attended photographic exhibitions on the life and times of Nelson Mandela and cleaned up city parks.
- The Soroptimist Club of Tshwane delivered food hampers to Potter’s House, a centre for abused and destitute women.
- Various organisations were involved in blanket and food drives, visiting old-age homes, clean-up campaigns in disability centres, in and around the city and providing lunch to some of its citizens.
Please join us as an institution in supporting Nelson Mandela International Day (Mandela Day) which was launched in 2009 on Nelson Mandela’s birthday, on 18 July. It was inspired by a call Madiba made a year earlier, summoning the next generation to take up where he has left off: taking on the burden of leadership in addressing the world’s social injustices. He declared, “it is in your hands”.
During 2009, the UN General Assembly unanimously declared 18 July as Nelson Mandela International Day. The overarching objective is to inspire individuals to take action to help change the world for the better, and in so doing, building a global movement with a lasting effect. Ultimately it seeks to empower communities everywhere.
THEME FOR 2011 – CHANGE
A call to action for people everywhere to take responsibility for making the world a better place, one small step at a time, just as Mr Mandela did.
ACTIVITIES
Activities are marked by acts of goodwill in communities throughout the world and a call on participants to donate 67 minutes of their time.
HSRC ACTIVITIES
The HSRC is calling on all our staff members to heed Madiba’s call and to show our commitment to providing care and support to vulnerable groups in our communities. This year, on 18 July 2011, the HSRC will join all national and international groups in commemorating this momentous day.
A team of staff members looked at various proposals that came from you, following a call in the Friday Bulletin and a committee has been established to co-ordinate all efforts. This committee will be led by the CEO’s office and will bring together all office managers, Human Resources, Support Services and administrative staff.
We will be collecting warm items of clothing and blankets, which will form part of our outreach activities for this day. Each office will support a shelter for homeless people and street children and the team have requested that you volunteer 67 minutes of your time in providing the much needed care and support for these institutions.
All staff are asked to volunteer their services and time to those marginalised groups in our communities.
We look forward to receiving your contributions as soon as possible.
Regards
Peter Pedlar, Acting CEO
A box will be provided on each floor in the different offices by Friday 24, where you can place your contributions