BY MFANUFIKILE KHATHWANE
MBABANE – The United Nations has celebrated Nelson Mandela International Day by recognizing two outstanding individuals who are carrying forward Madiba’s powerful legacy of justice, equality, and service to humanity.
Speaking at the UN’s 80th anniversary, Secretary-General António Guterres announced Ms. Brenda Reynolds of Canada and Mr. Kennedy Odede of Kenya as the 2025 recipients of the Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela Prize. The award is given to those who have dedicated their lives to serving others and improving their communities.
Reynolds, a member of the Fishing Lake First Nation and a long-serving social worker, was honoured for her tireless support of residential school survivors and their families. Her work has become a national model for trauma-informed care and Indigenous healing.
Odede, who rose from poverty in the Kibera slum of Nairobi, now leads a grassroots organization that provides essential services such as education, clean water, and health care to over 2.4 million people in Kenya and beyond.
“These individuals remind us that power is not something to be hoarded it is something to be used to uplift others,” said Guterres. “They embody the words of Mandela: ‘What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others.’”
Guterres noted that Mandela’s life marked by sacrifice, resilience, and unity continues to be a beacon in a world challenged by conflict, inequality, and the rollback of human rights.
He called on global leaders and citizens alike to recommit to Mandela’s core values: freedom, justice, equal rights, reconciliation, and peace.
As the world honours Nelson Mandela’s legacy, the UN urged everyone to reflect on how they, too, can make a meaningful difference. The day served not only as a celebration, but also as a call to action to build a world where dignity and equality are truly for all.
