Planet Smart City has announced a partnership with Mandela Mile, the organisation founded in memory of Nelson Mandela and Kofi Annan, to nurture the next generation of global leaders.
As well as contributing financially, Planet will work with Mandela Mile to inspire, showcase and support leaders from within Planet’s communities in Brazil, India and Italy, as part of Mandela Mile’s goal to empower a community of 100,000 mindful leaders worldwide. The partnership will play an important role in connecting Planet’s own community members to a global network of leaders, helping them apply Mandela Mile’s values of freedom, kindness and peace at a local level.
Founded in 2018, Mandela Mile is an annual observance of global leadership that runs between 8th April and 18th July. During this period, the organisation commemorates the lives of South African leader, Nelson Mandela, and United Nations Secretary-General, Kofi Annan. Its Mandela Mile walks, held each year on 18th July, take place in 13 countries around the world. They also work year-round to foster a community of leaders who are inspired to make the world a freer, kinder, and more peaceful place.
Through its Global Leadership Training Platform, Mandela Mile has already accepted 40 rising leaders from 21 countries to take part in a course developed in collaboration with the Caux Peace and Leadership Programme (CPLP). The individuals gain access to 10 global thought leaders, 14 world-class coaches, and 20 CPLP alumni to support their development. Planet’s residents and employees will be encouraged to take part in this year’s social media campaign, sharing videos of what motivates them to take action in their communities. This will be an opportunity not only to spread Mandela Mile’s message of mindful leadership but also to share examples of positive local action that may inspire others to act for the good of their neighbourhoods.
Carmen Romero, Chief Impact Officer at Planet Smart City, said: “Planet Smart City is incredibly proud to be partnering with Mandela Mile. We firmly believe in community leadership – it lies at the heart of how we design and manage our neighbourhoods. By working with Mandela Mile, we hope we can inspire a generation of local leaders in our communities. We look forward to introducing all of our residents to Mandela Mile’s great work and will continue empowering them with everything they need to make their neighbourhoods a better place.”
Shanthi Annan, Founder and Director of Mandela Mile, said: “We are excited by the possibility of working together with Planet on a long-term basis to inspire, showcase and support leaders from within its communities. To start with, we very much hope that Planet Smart City residents will choose to play an active role in this year’s social media campaign by posting their videos and tagging @mandelamile. We want to hear about what motivates them to keep positive, grow together, and take action within their communities at this time!”
