Nelson Mandela
Nelson Mandela
Nelson Rolihlahla Mandelawas a South African anti-apartheid revolutionary, politician, and philanthropist, who served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999. He was the country's first black chief executive, and the first elected in a fully representative democratic election. His government focused on dismantling the legacy of apartheid through tackling institutionalised racism and fostering racial reconciliation. Politically an African nationalist and democratic socialist, he served as President of the African National Congressparty from 1991 to 1997...
NationalitySouth African
ProfessionWorld Leader
Date of Birth18 July 1918
CityMvezo, South Africa
Every country in the world faces challenges. One of our challenges here is to ensure that we deal with poverty, lack of education.
I know that, throughout the world, there are good men and women concerned with the greatest challenges facing society today - poverty, illiteracy, and disease.
I will use the rest of my life to help the poor overcome the problems confronting them - poverty is the greatest challenge facing humanity. That is why I build schools; I want to free people from poverty and illiteracy.
Disasters will always come and go, leaving their victims either completely broken or steeled and seasoned and better able to face the next crop of challenges that may occur.
The greatest single challenge facing our globalised world is to combat and eradicate its disparities.
Even if you have a terminal disease, you don't have to sit down and mope. Enjoy life and challenge the illness that you have.
The challenge for each one of you is to take up these ideals of tolerance and respect for others and put them to practical use in your schools, your communities and throughout your lives.
The relations between a man and his or her god is a personal matter; you can't go out and challenge the belief of people in a superior being.
Among our country's major challenges are crime, joblessness and corruption,
I hope you will be able to discuss and consider this matter urgently and tell me your decision.
As 1999 approaches, I will endeavor as state president to delegate more and more responsibility so as to ensure a smooth transition to the new presidency,
The international community ... also made an important contribution to this struggle, ... not least through the imposition of economic and other sanctions.
We all felt on top of the world. It was a justification for the sacrifices which had been made by our people since the arrival of whites in this country in 1652.
There is no reason at all for any of our citizens to seek redress through violence, ... It will be the height of folly for anyone to seek to provoke the patience of a people who have elected, against their own deep emotions, to forgive and reconcile.