The award was presented April 23 by the Vice Chairman of the Africa Scout Committee, Nkwenkwe Nkomo, who is also the Chief Scout of South Africa.

"The welfare of young people is very close to Mandela's heart. Although he never wanted places and things named after him, a significant and very telling testimony of his love for young people is the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund, established when he pledged one third of his salary for five years to help young people in South Africa," said Kinuthia Murugu, Director of the Africa Scout Region, headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya.

Speaking as the Patron of the South African Scout Association, Mandela praised the progress that the Scout Movement is making as a world leader in youth education. He said: "The importance of a high moral code, which is at the foundation of the Scout Movement, cannot be stressed too highly."

The Scout Movement is in the forefront in the fight against HIV/AIDS in Africa, especially among young people who comprise the majority in the population. This is an issue for which Mr. Mandela has also vowed to commit his life. Recently, while receiving an award for humanity from the British Red Cross, Mandela said; "I am now devoting my life to fight AIDS in Africa, especially with young people." The award was presented to him by the then Secretary General of the World Organization of the Scout Movement, Dr. Jacques Moreillon, in his capacity as a member of the International Committee of the Red Cross.

The Scout Movement is the world's largest educational youth movement with more that 28 million Scouts, youth and adults, in 216 countries and territories. The mission of Scouting is to contribute to the education of young people, through a value system based on the Scout Promise and Law, to help build a better world where people are self-fulfilled as individuals and play a constructive role in society.