The Mandela Mile Global Leadership Challenge, a three-month training initiative, has opened with a call on the global community to adapt activities in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mrs Shanthi Annan, the Founder of Mandela Mile Organization, who made the call, suggested that people should adapt their activities to address the needs of their communities, in particular those of the elderly and most vulnerable.
"This is in the spirit of Kofi Annan and Nelson Mandela, who combined compassion with practical solutions to the problems of the day."
"This could be by tending gardens and allotments for those who are unable to do so, keeping streets and pavement litter-free, with all the necessary hand washing, trying not to wastewater," Mrs Shanthi Annan said in a statement to the Ghana News Agency on Wednesday.
She said individuals and community groups worldwide were invited to join the Mandela Mile online community platform and share how they were practicing greater leadership in their own lives and communities.
To join the Mandela Mile Community Platform, she asked individuals and community groups to share their ideas, suggestions, and proposals for this year's Mandela Mile on July 18, 2020, via the Mandela Mile website; www.mandelamile.global, contact via email; stepup@mandelamile.global, and follow @MandelaMile on the social media platform.
The Mandela Mile organisation has designated April 8, (Kofi Annan's Birthday) and 18 July, (Mandela's birthday) as a time to remember and celebrate the two legendary leaders of the world for challenging people from all walks of life to practice greater leadership in their own lives and communities.
The two leaders are being remembered for collectively nurturing a community of natural leaders who are inspired, ready to speak out and rebuild the world.
The Mandela Community Platform includes 40 emerging leaders representing 21 countries.
The first participants in the newly created Mandela Mile Leadership Training Programme have been making modifications to their plans to accommodate both the constraints and global community needs imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic.