Mandela Day with the United Nations in New York

To commemorate Nelson Mandela Day, volunteers from the UN and UNDP assist We Build New York repair homes in Long Beach destroyed by Hurricane Sandy. UN Photo

In New York, volunteers helped to rebuild houses destroyed by last year’s Hurricane Sandy in Long Beach and Far Rockaway, areas that took the brunt of the storm.

Among them, Grece Kaneiya from UN Radio, alongside colleagues and staff of the South African Mission to the United Nations, sanded the ceiling and walls of a residential home flooded by Hurricane Sandy, prepping it for painting.

“I feel like I was really motivated to go by the message behind the Nelson Mandela International Day - to mark Mr. Mandela’s 67 years of public service with 67 minutes of helping another person,” Ms. Kaneiya said.

“Sometimes we think we can only help in terms of money but sometimes just giving out your time is more important,” she said adding: “I’m African. This is not Africa, but I feel like anyone anywhere can help another person in need; it doesn’t matter where you’re from.”

United Nations News Centre