A winner is a dreamer who never gave up.
Nelson Mandela
Nelson Mandela never gave up – and for that reason today, July 18, we at Bread and Water for Africa® are joining in the worldwide recognition of his life on the United Nations’ Nelson Mandela International Day.
“Nelson Mandela devoted his life to the service of humanity – as a human rights lawyer, a prisoner of conscience, an international peacemaker and first democratically elected president of a free South Africa,” notes the UN.
The resolution adopted by the United Nations’ General Assembly on November 10, 2009, recognizes “the long history of Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela’s leading role in and support for Africa’s struggle for liberation Africa’s unity, and his outstanding contribution to the creation of a non-racial, non-sexist, democratic South Africa…”
But even more, the impact of his life continues to resonate around the world today through his legacy.
“Nelson Mandela’s values and his dedication to the service of humanity, as a humanitarian, in the fields of conflict resolution, race relations, promotion and protection of human rights, reconciliation, gender equality and the rights of children of other vulnerable groups, as well as the upliftment of poor and underdeveloped communities…”
Nelson Mandela Day 2023 marks the celebration of what would’ve been his 105th birthday, born in the village of Mvezo, then part of apartheid South Africa that the infant given the forename Rolihlahla (a Xhosa term meaning “troublemaker”), that more than 70 years later he was instrumental in helping to eradicate.
This year’s Mandela Day theme: “The Legacy Lives on Through You: Climate, Food, and Solidarity” emphasizes the relevance of his legacy in addressing contemporary issues.
At Bread and Water for Africa®, thanks to our supporters around the country, we strive to do our part to address the growing issues of climate change causing severe droughts by drilling wells in parched regions of sub-Saharan Africa to provide clean water for thousands more year after year.
We also work with our grassroots partners to address food insecurity in countries such as Sierra Leone to train smallholder farmers, primarily women and youth, in the best agricultural practices, and provide them with tools and supplies to enable them to reap as much as possible from their small tracts of land.
In the knowledge that providing hundreds of children in sub-Saharan Africa with the opportunity to attend school we take note of Mandela’s own words:
“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.
“Without education, your children can never really meet the challenges they will face. So, it’s very important to give children an education and explain that they should play a role for their country.
“No country can really develop unless its citizens are educated.”
On this day, we hope you will be inspired, as we are, to help change the world for the better, and as notes the UN,
“Mandela Day is an occasion for everyone to take action and inspire change.”
Please join with us on our mission to inspire change by visiting our website http://africanrelief.org/
