Give & Take: Honoring Nelson Mandela Through Small Acts of Kindness
Nelson Mandela, affectionately known as Madiba to many of us here in South Africa, has left behind a legacy like no other. Mandela was a fighter, a father, a dreamer, and to many of us, a hero, and advocate for change, peace, and unity. When he spoke, we listened. When he smiled, our hearts beamed with joy. His presence was something truly magical. On December 10, 1993, Mandela was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo for his fight in ending apartheid, leading up to 2009, when the United Nations recognized July 18, Madiba’s birthday, as International Mandela Day. He humbly requested for the day to be commemorated by giving back to those in need.
When he sadly passed on December 5, 2013, South Africa, along with the rest of the world came to a standstill, mourning the loss of the father of our nation. He left us with something powerful. Mandela said: “It is time for new hands to lift the burdens. It is in your hands now.”
During the week of July 18, we did just that. Prosek's Giveback team hosted a global initiative honoring the great Nelson Mandela. We launched our global Nelson Mandela Day initiative across all of our offices, uniting us all through 67 minutes (1 minute for every year of his life he fought for justice, equality and human rights for all) of kindness. Each Prosek office rose to the occasion wholeheartedly and we are elated and taken aback by the immense generosity demonstrated by each Prosekian.
Prosek New York Office: Hosted a brown bag meal packing event for the New York Common Pantry on July 20, putting together over 100 packages and 3 large boxes worth of meals, to aid in reducing hunger and promoting dignity, health, and self-sufficiency. They also donated over $2,000 directly to the organization.
Prosek South Africa Office: Volunteered at the Ladles of Love organization during their team offsite on July 21, supporting the organization’s drive to nourish the nation. On the day, the team assisted in the preparation and serving of hundreds of meals to homeless and vulnerable men, women, and children, creating a sense of dignity, respect and working towards the kind of world we all want to live in. 
Prosek CT Office: Gathered food items to donate to the Operation Hope food pantry, uplifting the community by providing over 123,000 meals a year to neighbors in need.
Prosek Los Angeles Office: Collected over 60 pieces of clothing for Out of the Closet, a thrift store with several locations in the city who donate proceeds of the clothing sales to the AIDS Healthcare Foundation to support free HIV testing.
Prosek Boston Office: Participated in a variety of options including volunteering with Catie’s Closet, beach clean-up and local food banks, contributing towards a lasting impact on the local community.
Prosek London Office: Shared a volunteering opportunity for a local food pantry, providing meals to those most in need.
What a truly humbling experience. If this is what can be achieved in 67 minutes, imagine what could be possible if we let the spirit of Nelson Mandela live through us all of the time. Every day presents a great opportunity for our KIND behavior to contribute to a better world for all. Let us continue to honor Nelson Mandela, and his passion to embody love, unity, and humility among all. A simple smile, gesture, well done or a helping hand can make all the difference. It all starts with kindness. 