18th July - On this Day

What does the 18th July have to offer, well on this day...

On this day in 1918, a hero was born. Former South African president Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela was born the son of a Tembu tribal chieftain at Qunu, near Umtata, in the Transkei territory of South Africa. Giving up his hereditary rights, Mandela chose to become a lawyer and earned his degree at the University of South Africa. His activities in the struggle against apartheid resulted in his conviction for sabotage in 1964. During his 28 years in jail, Mandela remained a symbol of hope to South Africa's nonwhite majority, the demand for his release a rallying cry for civil rights activists. That release finally came on the 11th of February, 1990, as millions watched via satellite television. He was the 1993 recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize. In 1994 Mandela was elected president of South Africa in the first all-race election there. He died on the 5th of December, 2013, in Johannesburg.

First observed in 2009, Mandella day was created and is a celebration of Nelson Mandela's life and a global call to action for people to recognize their individual ability to make an imprint and change the world around them. The hope is to inspire people from every corner of the earth to embrace the values of Nelson Mandela as they seek to improve their lives through service to their communities. Annually, on Nelson Mandela's birthday

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