Nelson Mandela International Day is held on July 18 every year to commemorate the Nobel Peace Prize laureate's birthday.

This was decided last November by the UN General Assembly to recognize Mandela's contribution to resolving conflicts and promoting race relations, human rights and reconciliation.

Mandela turns 92 Sunday, and 92 children aged from six to 12 from southern South Africa were flown courtesy of the national carrier to visit with him at his Johannesburg home Saturday. They sang him a birthday song.  

In a statement, his office quotes him as saying, “I like being with young children.”  

After 26 years locked in an apartheid prison, he emerged to lead South Africa’s transition from the division of apartheid to an integrated, multi-racial democracy.

Nelson Mandela is a hero to people of all backgrounds and experience who strive for freedom and progress.  His story is filled with an amazing strength and integrity of spirit.

Nelson Mandela is a great man who faced one of the greatest evils of our time. Apartheid was twisted and it was grotesque.
Nelson Mandela understood the power of words to change minds and the power of peaceful deeds to open hearts. He did not overthrow apartheid by force of arms. He overthrew it by force of example. He was apartheid’s captive but never its prisoner. He never let his jailers make him doubt his own humanity, and he never let himself doubt their own humanity.

Nelson Mandela is such a leader, and we are fortunate to walk the earth in his days.

Viva Africa, Viva Nelson Mandela