On 18 July, the United Nations will once again honor Nelson Mandela’s legacy with a special commemoration in the General Assembly Hall and a service project.
The 2025 theme for Mandela Day is “It's still in our hands to combat poverty and inequity”.
Special Commemoration in General Assembly Hall
This year, the General Assembly event will include the awarding of the 2025 UN Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela Prize to Brenda Reynolds, a Salteaux woman from Canada supporting the health and well-being of Indigenous communities, and Kennedy Odede, who grew up in the Kibera slum and founded SHOFCO – Shining Hope for Communities – aiming to combat poverty and gender inequality.
Secretary-General António Guterres and President of the General Assembly Philemon Yang will award the prizes in a webcast event on 18 July starting at 10 AM ET.
Service Project on Governors Island
But the observance won’t end with speeches. In true Mandela Day spirit, the UN community will step into action with a service project aimed at giving back to our host, New York City.
Join us on Governors Island starting at 3 PM to plant trees, pick weeds, and demonstrate that service doesn’t require grand gestures – just time and a shared purpose. Note the new location, our original plans were for Randell’s Island.
Sign up by 11 July using our registration form.
If you cannot join, the UN encourages everyone to do 67 minutes of volunteering on 18 July, in honour of the 67 years of Nelson Mandela’s public service.
“Our Shared Humanity in Action”
In New York, we also invite you to view a new exhibit, “Our Shared Humanity in Action”, reflecting on the Special Committee against Apartheid. The exhibit, which is organized by the Nelson Mandela Foundation and the Permanent Mission of South Africa to the United Nations, will officially open on 16 July.
More details and social media assets are available on Trello.
