Nelson Mandela International Day
18 July

UN Headquarters — NYC

UN Headquarters, 20 July — 10:00 a.m. (EDT)

The United Nations General Assembly marks Nelson Mandela International Day with an informal plenary meeting.

• Theme: “It is still in our hands to combat poverty and inequity” Secretary-General's Message for 2026

Speakers: TBA

Public Service Activity — NYC

Volunteering around New York City

Volunteering for #MandelaDay: This year, the UN has organized multiple volunteering opportunities for UN colleagues to give back to their local communities around New York City. 

Volunteers will help conduct a variety of activities at The Bowery Mission, Refettorio Harlem, Community Help in Park Slope (CHiPS), and Encore Community Services to help people in need. participants will assist in serving breakfast and lunch to people living with food insecurity, preparing care kits and prepackaged meals, delivering meals to homebound older adults, and assisting with an ice-cream social.

Each year, individuals around the world are encouraged to dedicate 67 minutes of their time on this day to community service – in honor of the 67 years that Nelson Mandela devoted to public service and the pursuit of social justice. This year, we reflect and act under the theme: “It’s still in our hands to combat poverty and inequity.”

The UN is also cross promoting this event and encouraging colleagues to undertake additional service projects through the ActNow campaign app.

Organizers:

The volunteer activity is a collaboration co-organized by the UN Department for Global Communications, the NYC Mayor's Office for International Affairs, the Office of the President of the UN General Assembly, the Nelson Mandela Foundation and the Permanent Mission of South Africa to the UN.