"Nelson Mandela dedicated his life to the struggle for equality and social justice, and many around the world remain indebted to him for the selfless contribution he made to humanity," says Nunu Ntshingila, regional director for Facebook in Africa.
"Nelson Mandela's 100th birthday is a moment we should celebrate globally. We will anchor on Madiba's legacy as a way to inspire people to do good in their own community, wherever they are in the world," Ntshingila adds.
Building on its partnership with the Nelson Mandela Foundation, Facebook will be celebrating Mandela Day through three initiatives:
1. Partnering on the Mandela Archives: In February,
Facebook announced a three-year partnership with the Nelson Mandela Foundation to honour Mandela's legacy through the preservation and digitisation of the extensive Mandela Archives.
2. Annual Lecture with Obama: Former United States President Barack Obama delivered the Mandela Annual Lecture in Johannesburg. Facebook supported the Nelson Mandela Foundation with Facebook Live streaming. Users were able to watch the lecture on
the Nelson Mandela Foundation page on Tuesday, 17 July from 15:00 to 18:00 South African time (13:00 to 16:00 GMT).
3. Global Community Moment and Profile Frames: Facebook users across the world will have received an alert at the top of their News Feeds on Wednesday, 17 July.
The alert aims to pay tribute to Mandela, inviting people to follow in his footsteps by taking action, inspiring change and making a difference in their communities.
In addition, those who are in English speaking countries can access a unique camera profile frame featuring a quote from Mandela.