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The pandemic, the war and inflation have left Africa mired in a fuel and food crisis, the likes of which we have not seen in decades. Worse still, this comes at a time when the Horn of Africa is enduring the longest drought it's faced in close to half a century. And what is happening in Africa is not an isolated event. The drought there is a reflection of extreme weather we are seeing across the globe. As we sit here today, our world is on fire, again.

And these historic weather events are no longer historic. More and more, they are a part of our daily lives and this crisis will only grow worse… unless our leaders lead. Unless the countries represented by the seats in this hallowed hall make the decisions -- the daring, transformative decisions -- that our world needs to save humanity.

These decisions may not fit the agendas of every political party. They may invite resistance from powerful interests. But the right thing to do is not up for debate. And neither is the science. The only question is whether we will be brave enough and wise enough to do what is necessary.

So yes, this is a pivotal moment -- a moment where multiple converging crises have given way to an endless string of injustices -- a moment where ordinary people around the world are experiencing extraordinary pain.

And in this moment, we have a choice to make.

We can grow apathetic, succumb to anger or yield to despair, surrendering to the gravity of what we're up against.

Or we can do what Mandela did, every single day inside that 7-by-9-foot prison cell on Robben Island -- and every day outside of it, too.

We can find meaning and purpose in the struggle. We can wear our principles as armor. Heed the advice Mandela once gave his son, to \"never give up the battle even in the darkest hour.\" And find hope where we have the courage to seek it.

Since I first visited Africa at 13 years old, I've always found hope on the continent. In fact, for most of my life, it has been my lifeline, a place where I have found peace and healing time and time again.

It's where I've felt closest to my mother and sought solace after she died, and where I knew I had found a soulmate in my wife.

And it's why so much of my work is based there. Because, despite continued hardship, there are people across Africa who embody Mandela's spirit and ideals -- building on the progress he helped make possible.

I see it in the communities fighting to save the Okavango Delta, defying the odds to protect their home and its biodiversity from big oil companies.

I see it in the young girls who were forced out of school and into marriage in Northern Nigeria, speaking out today so others may get a fuller chance to thrive tomorrow.

I see it in the young entrepreneurs I met in Johannesburg, using their energy and creativity to launch businesses that serve their communities.

I see it in World Central Kitchen, a partner of the Archewell Foundation, and their volunteers in Ukraine and around the world, fighting food insecurity one meal at a time.

I see it in the vulnerable children of Lesotho and Botswana orphaned by HIV, striving for a brighter future, which we support through our organization, Sentebale.

I see it in the newest generation of activists for equality and justice, who are mobilizing people of all ages and races, all faiths and walks of life, to lace up their shoes and join the march.

And I see it in the parents I meet around the world, as determined as Mandela was, to give their children a better shot at a brighter future, to prioritize their own and their children's mental health and wellbeing, to reject old ideas and past prejudices… to heal from the past and build resilience for the present and future, because they know the price of inaction will be paid by the next generation.

In their strength and in their deeds, Mandela's legacy shines as brightly as ever. They are my life belt. I hope they can be yours, too.

Because right now, the water is rising all around us -- in some places, quite literally.

So it's more important than ever that we seek a purpose greater than ourselves, and get to work.

After all, Mandela was not only a man of conscience. He was a man of action. He organized millions. Inspired billions. Joined hands -- not only with those who loved him, but those who had once jailed him -- to build a better future for all.

What Mandela understood was that true legacy transcends one's own needs and the passage of time. It defies the moment -- its relevance never ceases. Legacy does not belong to the self. It belongs to those it impacts.

That doesn't mean he was perfect. No, he was something better. He was human. As he wrote in his autobiography:

\"I have made missteps along the way. But I have discovered the secret that after climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more hills to climb. I have taken a moment here to rest, to steal a view of the glorious vista that surrounds me, to look back on the distance I have come. But I can rest only for a moment, for with freedom comes responsibilities, and I dare not linger, for my long walk is not yet ended.\"

It has been almost a decade now since Mandela's own walk on this Earth finally reached its end. But what he taught us again and again is that it was never his walk alone.

It was all of ours. It is all of ours.

What a beautiful gift, especially as a dad of two young children myself -- the message that this world is meant to be shared, that the work of each generation is tied to those who came before and those who will come after us.

That we have an obligation to give as much, if not more, than we take and never shudder in the face of darkness, for hope is the fuel that courage requires.

So on this Nelson Mandela International Day, as a new generation comes of age, a generation that did not witness Mandela's leadership for themselves, let's commit to remembering and celebrating his life and legacy every day, not just once a year.

Let's talk with our children about what he stood for. Let's seek out what we have in common, empower all people to reclaim our democracies, and harness the light of Mandela's memory to illuminate the way forward.

Because if we can summon our own courage, just as he did, if we can see one another's humanity, just as he did, a better day will truly be on the horizon.

Thank you.

Harry's address comes 25 years after his mother Diana met Mandela during the trip to South Africa he mentioned in his speech.

The two met in March 1997 at Mandela's Cape Town home and discussed the issue of AIDS in the country. Diana dedicated much of her own time in the 1990s working on the issue, helping to destigmatize the disease and change misconceptions on how HIV/AIDS is transmitted.

\"PHOTO:
Sasa Kralj/AP, FILE
PHOTO: In this March 17, 1997 file photo, South African President Nelson Mandela, left, shows the way to Princess Diana, during a meeting in Cape Town, South Africa.
>

Harry has since continued his mother's legacy on the topic, becoming one of the leading worldwide advocates in the fight against AIDS and HIV. In 2018, he joined forces with Elton John at the International AIDS Conference in Amsterdam to shine a spotlight on the disease.

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