ISLAMABAD: Staff of the United Nations in Pakistan, diplomats and civil society representatives celebrated Nelson Mandela Day with children at the Society for the Protection of the Rights of Child in Islamabad on Tuesday. Volunteers distributed gift bags to the children and engaged with them in fun and recreational activities like face painting, drawing and colouring. Children had also the opportunity to listen to the stories about the life and work of the Nelson Mandela, narrated in Urdu by the volunteers. After the story telling session, they participated in a food fair. Mpendulo Jele, the high commissioner of South Africa, acknowledged the role of the UN Information Centre for celebrating Nelson Mandela Day in Pakistan. “Today is Nelson Mandela’s birthday. We lovingly refer to him in South Africa as Madiba,” he said. “In 2008, on his 90th birthday, he called on leaders of all nations to change the world to a better place,” he said. Published in Daily Times, July 19th , 2017.