International
Happy Birthday, Nelson Mandela!
On July 18, Nelson Mandela turns 92. Help us honour him on his birthday and thank him for nearly a century of life-changing work.
Add your photo to the giant birthday card that will be personally delivered to Nelson Mandela. You can easily submit a photo using Facebook or upload your own.
When Mandela was born, his father named him Rolihlahla, an Xhosa word affectionately meaning “troublemaker.” While the world would later come to know this boy as Nelson – the English name given by his teacher on his first day of school—Mandela has spent a lifetime stirring up an inspiring dose of trouble.
From an early age, Mandela acted boldly for those in need. He battled against apartheid, spending almost 27 years in prison to stand up for what he knew was right. He fought to make sure that every South African was given the honour of a vote, leading the country to its first free and fair election. He turned the tragedy of family death into an opportunity to educate his country about HIV/AIDS. He rallied on behalf of the hungry. He lobbied for equal education. He called for the world to come together and free those trapped in the prison of poverty. He challenged our generation to lead with action, not just words.
He’s shown the world what a difference just one troublemaker can make.
Nelson Mandela has devoted his life to serving his community, fighting for his country and speaking out on behalf of the poor. Let’s wish him happy birthday and show him our thanks.
As Nelson Mandela said on the eve of his presidential election, “I stand before you humbled by your courage, with a heart full of love.” Now it’s our turn to stand before him and do the same.
David Lane,
ONE’s President and CEO
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About the Blog
The International ONE Blog is a daily log of the anti-poverty movement. The site is operated by ONE staff, with guest contributions from ONE volunteers, members and allies.
The content of each post and each comment represents the views of that author and does not necessarily reflect the views of ONE. ONE does not support or oppose any candidate for elected office, and any post expressing support or opposition for a candidate is not endorsed by ONE.
02/07/2010 at 5:34 pm
I Nancy Lian Robinson, is extremely proud of Nelson Madela and lucky to live and work in his country between late 91 to late 93. I enjoyed my days, made notes and titled the notebook with the name: Dance with Nelson Mandela. Happy Birthday to the man I honoured for decades. May you live for many many years. Lucky to have been awared of him. Good health! nancy
06/07/2010 at 2:53 pm
I was born the very same year that Nelson Mandela was released from prison and I was four years old when he became the President of South Africa. The only reason I can remember such a monumental thing is because I remember thinking that he was the President of the whole world and the rest of the universe. He is such an immensely amazing man, if anyone were to be chosen as our world leader, I think he would definitely have been the man to lead us. I will forever hold him in awe in the depths of my heart. May his legacy live on for millenia to come. He will always be my idol.
21/07/2010 at 2:58 pm
It’s an honour to be part of this!
Happy Birthday Mr Mandela!
22/07/2010 at 7:23 am
Mister Mandela,
We wish you a happy birthday !
You are a exemple for the world !
We speak about you very often as own son , we adopted him for 3 years, he comes from South Africa, he was born in Soweto . One day , Marin Luther King, said, Ihave a dream , and now , we have a dream also, Have a chance to meet you , exactly , Tom-Siyanda will see you !
Thanks ,
Respectly ,