Nelson Mandela International Day!

The world lost one of its greatest leaders when Nelson Mandela passed away last year. Mandela Day is a global call to action that celebrates the idea that each individual has the power to transform the world, the ability to make an impact.

Nelson Mandela International Day (or Mandela Day) is an annual international day in honour of Nelson Mandela, celebrated each 18 July (on Mandela’s birthday). The day was officially declared by the United Nations in November 2009, with the first UN Mandela Day held on 18 July 2010. However, other groups began celebrating Mandela Day on 18 July 2009.

On 27 April 2009, the 46664 concerts and the Nelson Mandela Foundation invited the global community to join them in support of an official Mandela Day. Mandela Day is not meant as a public holiday, but as a day to honour the legacy of Nelson Mandela, South Africa’s former President, and his values, through volunteering and community service.
This week was dedicated on the Mandela International Day with the opening of the exhibition „Mandela Poster Project“ in Rotunda, Vienna International Centre (VIC) from 14 to 18 July 2014 and the screening of the film “Mandela : Long Walk to Freedom” will be on his birthday at UNIS, Cinema room. This film celebrates Nelson Mandela´s extraordinary journey from his childhood in a rural village through to his election as President of South Africa.

The Poster Project was organized by a group of designers from South Africa came up with an idea to celebrate Nelson Mandela´s life by collecting 95 Posters from around the world, honouring Madiba´s lifelong contribution to humanity. In 60 days, designers from more than 70 countries submitted more than 700 posters. The submissions were curated, and the final collection of 95 exceptional posters, the project has successfully achieved the aim of raising a substantial sum of money for the Nelson Mandela Childrens´s Hospital Trust Fund. It was Mr. Mandela´s dream, to build a hospital to cater for the medical needs of children in the Southern African region. This project by artists across the globe, has contributed in no small measure to the realisation of this goal. This hugely inspirational story of global collaboration is called Mandela Poster Project.

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on his Message on Nelson Mandela Day: Apartheid is gone – thanks to Nelson Mandela, countless other individuals and the proud actions of the United Nations. But our planet and its people still face terrible threats — poverty, discrimination, climate change, conflict and more.

Nelson Mandela Day is a call to action. Each of us can celebrate this Day by helping to address real problems in our communities. Together we can give great meaning to our celebration by paving the way for a better future. Desta Alemu (Abugidawien)

Werbung