United Nations Information Centre (UNIC) in collaboration with the South Africa High Commission will commemorate the 2011 International Day of Nelson Mandela on Sunday, 17th July at the Paediatric Oncology Ward at Muhimbili National Hospital.
The commemoration will include spending time with the Children living with cancer admitted at the ward and give them hope. The activities for the day includes cleaning around the ward and thereafter there will be some games with the 35 children living with cancer and have a fun moment with them to cheer them up. The event will start at 1500hours.
In 2009, the UN General Assembly in its resolution A/RES/64/13 declared 18 July as “Nelson Mandela International Day” in recognition of the former South African President’s contribution to the culture of peace and freedom.
UNIC Dar es Salaam invites the public to be part of this year’s celebration by donating 67 minutes of your time to some form of community service around your community.
Why 67 minutes? Nelson Mandela spent 67 years of his life serving his community, his country, and the world at large.
On his message to mark the day, the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said “Mandela has been a lawyer and a freedom fighter, a political prisoner, a peacemaker and president. A healer of nations and a mentor to generations, Nelson Mandela – or Madiba as he is affectionately known by millions – is a living symbol of wisdom, courage and integrity.”
Ban Ki-moon added that together, the best way we can thank Nelson Mandela for his work is by taking action for others and inspiring change.
On this year’s Mandela Day, his ninety-third birthday, we are joining a call by the Nelson Mandela Foundation to devote 67 minutes of our time – one minute for every year of Mr. Mandela’s public service – as a small gesture of solidarity with humanity and a step towards a global movement for good. More importantly, this would be the most noble way to honour Mr. Mandela and his work in the promotion and protection of human rights and democracy, reconciliation, racial and gender equality and the rights of children and other vulnerable groups.
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