Society
“It is time for the next generations to continue our struggle against social injustice and for the rights of humanity. It is in your hands.”
Nelson Mandela
How you can make a difference
It can be hard to imagine that our individual actions really make a difference in a world that is so full of suffering, but I want to assure you that they do. As Ela Bhatt writes in her magnificent blog Peace by practice: Mandela Day 2011, what we do each day “is like ripples in water, small circles of change that grow ever wider.” Many of you write to us asking “What can I do to help?” It can be the smallest gestures, closest to home, that matter most: helping a neighbour in need, organising a street clean up, or volunteering at a local youth group. There are plenty of ways to make a difference, not just on Mandela Day, but every day – here is a list of 67 ideas to get you started.
My friends, you have no excuse!
As Gro Brundtland says, “We want to inspire the conviction that we all can make a difference; that by our own actions, we can help make the world a better place.”
With love and blessings,
Desmond Tutu