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Do you think that it takes courage and maturity to forgive those who wronged you?
Reading Time: 6 minutes | Age Limit: 8-12 | Country Origin: South Africa
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“Nelson Mandela: The Power of Forgiveness”
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“The Nelson Mandela Story” tells the inspiring journey of a young man who stood up against injustice in South Africa and spent 27 years in prison for his beliefs. But instead of seeking revenge, he chose forgiveness. Discover how Nelson Mandela became a symbol of peace and unity, teaching the world that courage and maturity lie not in anger, but in the strength to forgive—and the hope to build a better future.
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The Prisoner Who Freed a Nation
Do you think that it takes courage and maturity to forgive those who wronged you?
In 1948, there was a law called apartheid practiced in South Africa. It separated people based on the color of their skin. Black people had fewer rights, worse schools, and were not treated fairly.
A young black man believed that everyone should be treated equally. He spoke up bravely against apartheid and worked hard to change the unfair system.
But after years of speaking out, he was arrested and sent to prison. His compatriots and he was sentenced to life in prison. They were sent to a maximum-security prison on Robben Island, where there were no white prisoners. He was locked up in a small, cold cell on an island, far from his family and friends.
In prison, he was treated very badly. He had to dig stones in the hot sun, eat less food than other prisoners, and sleep on the hard floor. The guards yelled at him and hurt him often.
Even after more than twenty years in prison, the man stayed strong and hopeful. He believed that one day, people of all races could live in peace.
Why do you think the man decided to forgive the people who had imprisoned and tortured him?
Finally, he was set free. But instead of being angry or wanting revenge, he forgave those who had hurt him. He said, “If I didn’t leave my hatred behind, I’d still be in prison.”
Four years later, this man was chosen as the first black President of South Africa. And at his big ceremony, he even invited one of his former jailers! He realised that forgiveness is not a sign of fear or weakness, but a sign of maturity and wisdom, since it requires strength, courage, and a deep commitment to justice to put into practice.
One day at lunch, the president saw a man eating alone. He invited him to join his table. The man’s hands shook with fear—he had once been the cruel guard at the president’s prison. But the president smiled kindly and shared his meal.
He felt that by letting go of anger and bitterness, he could move beyond the unhappy events of his past, and focus on creating a better future for his country. That kind and forgiving man was Nelson Mandela. He taught the world that forgiving others can help heal a nation.
One day at lunch, the president saw a man eating alone. He invited him to join his table. The man’s hands shook with fear—he had once been the cruel guard at the president’s prison. But the president smiled kindly and shared his meal.
He felt that by letting go of anger and bitterness, he could move beyond the unhappy events of his past, and focus on creating a better future for his country. That kind and forgiving man was Nelson Mandela. He taught the world that forgiving others can help heal a nation.
What lessons can we draw from Nelson Mandela’s act of forgiving his prison guards?
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“Nelson Mandela: The Triumph of Courage and Forgiveness”
Meet the legend:
On February 11th, 1990, a well-known political prisoner was released from the Victor Verster prison in South Africa. He had spent over two decades in jail, and of these, eighteen years were spent in very harsh conditions, in solitary confinement in the Robben Island jail. Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela (1918 – 2013) who, three years after his release, became the first Black President of South Africa. He was elected through a multi-racial, democratic electoral process, and held this office for fifteen years. A courageous and revolutionary agent of change, Mandela was also statesman who won more than 260 awards during his lifetime, including the Nobel Peace Prize, the Gandhi Peace Prize, and the Congressional Gold medal, awarded by the United States Congress. Mandela is universally remembered for his courage and perseverance in fighting apartheid. However, it is his humility and capacity to forgive that make him one of the tallest men of our times.
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