Opportunity to Meet Nelson Mandela

Students Can Enter Contest for Opportunity to Meet Nelson Mandela
Middle and high schools / Deadline: March 27

The Nelson Mandela Foundation and the DOE invite all New York City public school students in grades 6 through 12 to submit original works to qualify for a chance to travel to South Africa to meet Nobel Peace Prize winner and former South African president Nelson Mandela. This contest will:

offer a once-in-a-lifetime chance for students to meet a global leader for freedom and change;
encourage young people to learn about Nelson Mandela’s philosophy of fighting injustice, helping others, and practicing forgiveness; and
inspire young people apply Mandela’s legacy to their lives and communities as well as to problems that face the world – from poverty to disease to violence.

Each submission must:

demonstrate knowledge of Mandela’s life and understanding of his ideals;
convey a clear vision of how one person can act to make the world a better place by fighting injustice, helping others and practicing forgiveness and reconciliation; and
provide creative ways to apply Mandela’s ideals to one’s day-to-day life and local community, as well as to the biggest problems they believe face the world today.

Students may submit their entries as essays, photographs, or visual or performance art. All entries must be submitted electronically. This means visual and performance-based works must be scanned or digitally recorded.

Teachers or other school officials should visit www.zoomerang.com/Survey/?p=WEB228WNVWFYMK to submit their students’ entries. The entry deadline is March 27. The Mandela Foundation will announce the winners in April.