On 18 July 2009, Nelson Mandela turns 91 years old.  In honour of this grand occasion, former President Nelson Mandela, 46664 and the Nelson Mandela Foundation are urging people all over the world to join them in a bid to create an official Mandela Day, which would be held on Mr Mandela's birthday each year.  The proposed Mandela Day will not be a public holiday, but will rather be a day on which we pledge to spend 67 minutes on something that will help bring about positive change in our world.  It's a day when we get a chance to give, rather than to take.  Why 67 minutes?  They represent one minute for every year that Nelson Mandela has given us, in his effort to make the world a better place to live in.  In the words of Mr Mandela himself: "It is in your hands to create a better world for all who live in it." Cited: Mail & Guardian

Mandela Day will be launched in New York on July 18, 2009.  At the end of a week-long series of events, the occasion will be centered on a massive musical concert taking place at Radio City in New York.  Performers include Stevie Wonder, Wyclef Jean, Aretha Franklin, Loyiso, Will.I.Am, Jesse McCartney, Cyndi Lauper, Zucchero, Josh Groban, Baaba Maal, Angelique Kidjo and the Soweto Gospel Choir.

Want to see the concert?  The free webcast will be available at www.livestream.com/mandeladaytv, while users who visit www.mandeladay.com will be able to watch the concert in high resolution full-screen through a pay per view option (US$4.99) and gain access to multiple camera feeds and interactive content.  All the net proceeds from the pay-per-view experience will benefit 46664 and the Nelson Mandela Foundation.  Cited SouthAfrica.info

President Zuma will be spending his 67 minutes with the elderly in Ivory Park.  All government ministers and ANC MPs will also devote 67 minutes to community service on July 18 to mark the first Nelson Mandela Day.  Nelson Mandela has stated his birthday wish to be that "South Africans never give up on the belief in goodness".  Cited SA The Good News

Let us make Tata Madiba's wish come true by giving at least 67 minutes of our day on 18 July to something worthwhile.  If you are not sure what you can do, the Mandela Day website suggests that you can:

•  Feed the homeless
• Be a big brother/big sister to a child who needs one
• Visit someone who is sick.

More ideas from us:

• Volunteer at a community centre e.g. a soup kitchen, home of the aged, home for orphans etc.
• Clean up your neighbourhood e.g. sweep the pavement, or pick up litter.
• Collect old clothes/ toys/ books and donate them to a youth organisation/ orphanage/ place of safety or pre-primary school
• Collect blankets, clothes and food to donate to the people who have been displaced by this week's floods in the province.
• Take children in your area to the sports field and play soccer or another sport with them
• Volunteer to read a story for Children's Hour at your public library.

As you can see, your contribution does not have to cost you anything but some thought and time, so do your bit to let Nelson Mandela know that his sacrifices for us were not made in vain.

Happy 91st Birthday, Tata Madiba!  We are proud to be your children, and wish you the best birthday ever.

Sources:
Mandela Day
SouthAfrica.info
Mail & Guardian
The Citizen
South Africa The Good News