His Excellency Mandela

Recipient of 

"Gulen Institute Peace Award"

Johannesburg, 

South Africa

Recipient of "GULEN INSTITUTE PEACE AWARD 2010" is His Excellency Nelson Mandela.

Mr. Mandela, former President of South Africa, was given this award for his contributions to peace, dialogue and social justice, which have been a source of inspiration for millions.

"Gulen Institute Peace Award 2010" was presented to Ms. Ruth Rensburg, the Nelson Mandela Foundation's resource development manager, on behalf of Mr. Mandela. This event took place in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Mandela was born on July 18, 1918, near Umtata in South Africa. He studied law and in 1944 joined the African National Congress (ANC) Youth League. He became a symbol for equal rights and justice in the fight against apartheid. After being convicted of a conspiracy to overthrow the government he spent 27 years in jail. He was finally released in 1990. In 1993 he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. From 1994 to 1999 he was the first democratically elected president of South Africa. Mandela announced in 2004 that he was leaving politics to spend more time with his family.