Nelson Mandela

Hello! My name is Nelson. I want to tell you my story. A long, long time ago, in the year 1918, I was born in a sunny country called South Africa. I lived in a little village where the sun was warm and the grass was soft. I loved to run and play with my friends. We didn't wear shoes, so we could feel the earth under our feet. I was a herd-boy, which means I helped look after the sheep and little calves. It was my job to make sure they were safe and happy. At night, I would listen to the grown-ups tell amazing stories around the fire. My childhood was full of sunshine, laughter, and learning.

When I grew up, I saw something that wasn't right. In my country, some people were treated nicely, and other people were not, just because of the color of their skin. This was not fair, and it made me feel very sad. I wanted everyone to be friends and share everything together. I believed that all people are special and should be treated with love and respect. I talked about this big idea of fairness, but some leaders did not like it. They sent me to a small island and I had to stay there for a very, very long time. It was a lonely place, but I never, ever gave up on my dream.

After many years, I was finally free. I came back and helped teach everyone how to forgive and be kind to one another. My dream started to come true. In the year 1994, all the people in South Africa were able to be friends, and they chose me to be their leader, their president. I was so happy to see everyone living together. I lived a long and full life. After many years of sharing my message of peace, I grew very old, and then I died. But my big wish for fairness and kindness is a dream that still lives on. Remember, even one person with a kind heart can help change the whole world.