This archive report was first published on 24 July 2019.
On July 8, 2009, the United Nations dedicated International Mandela Day to commemorate Nelson Mandela's selfless commitment to peace and justice. The day is celebrated by doing good for 67 minutes, a nod to Mandela's 67 years of service. In Kenya, where the gap between the rich and poor seems insurmountable, this theme should resonate deeply.
The 2009 celebration of Mandela Day in Kenya took place at the August 7th Memorial Park, where representatives from the Foreign Ministry, South African Embassy, and American Embassy delivered speeches. However, it was a young lady from Footprints of Change, an organization empowering young people through leadership, who stole the show with her poignant speech on poverty.
She emphasized the need to address the structural causes of poverty in slum areas through civic engagement and peacebuilding. Her organization recognizes that knowledge gaps are a root cause of poverty, a concept often overlooked in local interventions. She highlighted the importance of measuring poverty by access to leadership, not just basic services.
Her words were particularly apt, given the Memorial Park's significance as a symbol of the consequences of a lack of peace and mind. She also touched on the 'poverty of dreams' afflicting many young people in Mathare, Nairobi, where lack of basic services like water, sanitation, and infrastructure hinders their ability to think beyond their immediate needs.
She argued that the global measure of poverty, focusing on basic needs and income, is limited and often leads to a comfort zone where individuals become more individualistic and less aware of their civic duty. This phenomenon is often criticized in Kenya's middle class, who prioritize personal gain over collective well-being.
Mandela Day proposes a more holistic approach to poverty, one that prioritizes civic-mindedness and collective action. As the proverb goes, 'if you want to go fast, go alone, if you want to go far, go together.' This traditional African wisdom is more relevant today than ever.
