Over 2,000 school children gathered on the outskirts of Johannesburg to form a visually spectacular human portrait of Nelson Mandela with the message ‘Freedom from Hunger’, to remind global leaders about the current food crisis.

The ambitious project, which could only be seen and photographed from the sky, took place in the sprawling township of Alexandra as part of ActionAid’s HungerFREE campaign, urging world leaders to act on the global food crisis.

ActionAid South Africa Country Director Zanele Twala said Mandela is one of the most outspoken leaders on the eradication of global hunger.

“On his 90th birthday, the youth of South Africa are celebrating this great milestone by reminding global leaders that people around the world are experiencing insufferable hunger and we need an urgent resolution to the current food crisis,” said Twala.

“Today is one of the most exciting days of my life because Mandela is the reason we are free today,” said 17-year-old Bongani Zulu of East Bank High School.

“Sometimes I feel as if Alex is a forgotten town, and I’m glad that we have this opportunity on Mandela’s birthday to talk to the world.”

“Things are so tough for us currently, we are struggling more than ever to survive,” said Salamina Gladys Motsoagae, a 23-year-old single parent who lives in an informal settlement in Orange Farm, Johannesburg, with her mother.

“We are down to two meals per day. Our government needs a wake up call because we cannot continue to live like this.”

The day after the impressive stunt, Salamina caused Desmond Tutu to rise to his feet – bringing a room of hundreds with him – as she made an impassioned plea for international governments to end world hunger.

At the meeting in Johannesburg, Elders chairman Desmond Tutu described the right to food as “fundamental.”

“We have it in us to make this a better world, a caring world, a compassionate world in which everyone would enjoy the right to food and freedom from hunger,” he said.

 

The Elders are a group of independent leaders including Nelson Mandela, Kofi Annan, Desmond Tutu and Graca Machel amongst others. The Elders use their influence to support peace building, address causes of suffering and promote the shared interests of humanity. Watch as they speak out on the global food crisis and support the HungerFREE campaign.