July 18 marks what would’ve been Nelson Mandela’s 103rd birthday. The date is also recognized around the world as Nelson Mandela International Day by the United Nations which is asking people around the world to make a difference in their communities.

This year’s theme is “One hand can feed another” as the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated existing crises, notes the Nelson Mandela Foundation.

“This moment in history has come with the devastating loss of life, exposed the fragility of health systems, and aggravated food insecurity for many communities. Millions of livelihoods have been lost, and people have become increasingly dependent on one another to survive.”

At Bread and Water for Africa® we strive every day to live up to Mandela’s legacy in numerous ways, particularly in the education of children, which was priority for Mandela throughout his life.

Among the priorities of the Nelson Mandela Foundation is education for all children and youth despite their circumstances, which is also among our top priorities for us at Bread and Water for Africa®.

In Mandela’s own words: “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”

And “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.”

At Bread and Water for Africa®, we wholeheartedly agree and that’s among the reasons why we not only have built schools in countries including Cameroon, Kenya and Sierra Leone providing opportunity for thousands of boys and girls for an education, but also pay the school fees for hundreds more every year in the poorest countries in the world such as Chad.

“No country can really develop unless its citizens are educated,” Mandela wisely spoke.

On this day, we hope you will be inspired, as we are, to help change the world for the better, and, as notes the U.N., “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/