Nelson Mandela inspired the idea for Mandela Day at his 90th birthday celebrations in Hyde Park, London when he said: It is time for new hands to lift the burden. It is in your hands now”. The idea of Mandela Day is that everyone has the ability to make an impact and do something in their own way to change the world and the world of those around them.

The 18th July is Nelson Mandela International Day, now more widely known as Mandela Day and was officially declared by the United Nations in November 2009, to acknowledge his values and dedication to the service of humanity and struggle for international democracy and peace throughout the world.

The day remembers Mandela’s achievements in working towards conflict resolution, democracy, human rights, peace, and reconciliation.

Madiba as Nelson Mandela was fondly known was one of South Africa’s greatest heroes. Not only is he loved and respected as one of the greatest leaders in South Africa, he is also admired and respected around the world. Liverpool has its own special relationship and connection with Nelson Mandela. When Liverpool became aware of Apartheid and Nelson Mandela’s incarceration community activists, Unions and the City came together to support the Free Nelson Mandela Campaign and took a solid stance against Apartheid.

Liverpool is built on strong political and social values and has experienced oppression but not on the scale of South Africa. So when awareness of the brutality of Apartheid in South Africa became known in Liverpool the City united to support Mandela, the ANC and South African people. Nelson Mandela was gifted the Freedom of the City in 1994 and a Civic Reception held in his honour 20 years later in 2014.

Whilst in South Africa in 2018 Mandela8 heard about the My67 Minutes programme and when back in Liverpool, decided to pilot it with Liverpool schools and Youth Groups. And so Mandela8 My67 Minutes was born.

So What is Mandela Day?

Nelson Mandela’s fight for justice began in 1942 and for 67 tireless years he continued to fight for social justice and human rights and the My67 Minutes programme is designed to enable you as an individual, or collectively as part of a group or organisation to give 67 minutes of your day, 1 minute for every year, to help someone else, ideally on Mandela Day or in that week.

It is a day where Nelson Mandela’s life’s work is celebrated annually through acts of kindness and 67 ways for people of all ages to get involved are suggested in the Mandela8 Mandela Day Resource Pack (need a hyperlink to all the Mandela8 resources for Mandela Day inserting in here) and you can also download a range of resources for all ages to get involved on the Nelson Mandela Day website.

“What good deed are you going to do today for someone that will make their life better?” – Dr Makaziwe Mandela.

The Mandela8 My67 Minutes Programme will be rolled out across the Liverpool City Region and parts of the North West Region this year after a very successful programme in Liverpool last year delivered in 170 schools reaching 55,000 pupils and 8 youth centres reaching 85 young people.

The 2019 programme includes:

Download My 67 Ideas Brochure
Download for Primary School Assembly Presentation
Download for Secondary School Assembly Presentation
Download Poster
Download Schools Pledge

Expansion to schools across the wider Liverpool City Region (and additional 408 primary schools and 61 secondary schools).  School to order their books by emailing mandela8@outlook.com

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