Research information about a famous person that you admire from your country. They can be alive or dead. Write a bit about their life. Explain what they did to become famous. Descibe some of the obstacles they overcame. Explain why you admire them.
For Example: Nelson Mandela
When I was growing up, I lived in South Africa. During that time, white and black South Africans were not equal. Black South Africans could not vote or start their own busineses or even use the public beaches.
When I was 7 years old, I saw some graffiti on a wall that said, "Free Mandela." I asked my father who Mandela was. He said that Mandela was a civil rights leader who wanted everyone in South Africa to be equal. However, the government was scared of him so they arrested him. At his trial in 1964, he said many famous things about the rights of black people and the injustices of Apartheid. He became famous throughout the world as a symbol of freedom and human rights.
He was put in prison on Robben Island (just off Cape Town) where he lived a hard life doing heavy labour. He was in prison for 27 years!
Eventually he was set free in 1990. I was 20 years old at the time. It was a wonderful moment for all South African when he walked free. You would expect a man who was in prison for 27 years to be angry and bitter. But not Mandela. He was full of love and compassion for his people. He still wanted to achieve his dream of a South Africa where all people were equal irrespective of colour.
In 1994, he became president of South Africa. He did many things to bring black and white people together and make South Africans feel proud again. For example, in 1995 he persuaded the world to let South Africa host the World Cup rugby. It was one of South Africa's proudest moments when the South African team won. South Africa celebrated as a unified nation - both blacks and whites dancing together in the streets across the country. There is a good movie about this called Invictus starring Matt Damon and Morgan Freeman.
Mandela is my role model. He believed passionately in his cause. He endured terrible hardships and obstacles including 27 years in prison. But he never gave up and in the end he achieved his dream of a South Africa where all men are equal. And throughout his stuggles, he remained an optimistic and compassionate man with great integrity and a wonderful sense of humour. He is a truly remarkable man who I will deeply admire and respect for the rest of my life.
Below is a photo of Mandela giving the trophy to the South African rugby captain after they won the world cup. Mandela wore the South African rugby jersey and it is an iamge that will always be remebered and treasured by all South Africans.
No comments:
Post a Comment