Students inspired by Letter to Mandela Competition | News

December 2025

Students inspired by ‘Letter to Mandela’ Competition

By Claire Huggins

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“If you could write to Nelson Mandela, what would you say?”

This was the food for thought that sixth form and FE students were offered by Nic Careem, founder of the Letter to Mandela Competition. As the year drew to a close, Nic Careem was invited to address the students gathered in our Sixth Form Centre and introduce them to the competition.

Back in 1999, Nic began what became known as the House of Commons Mandela Tribute Book. Created to mark Mandela’s retirement from his role as President of South Africa, the book now features over 700 contributions from global leaders, artists, musicians, humanitarians, religious leaders and more. British Prime Ministers, Sir Paul McCartney, Maya Angelou, Barack Obama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu are just a few to have added their handwritten message of admiration and respect for Nelson Mandela and his work.

“This book is more than a collection of tributes. It is a living legacy, reminding us that Mandela’s work is not finished,” Nic explained.
“That is why we launched the Letter to Mandela Competition, giving young people across the world a chance to write 'directly' to Madiba, sharing their vision of a fairer, kinder world. Their voices matter. Their dreams must be heard.”

Main photo (L-R): Haroon Bashir (UCB Head of ED&I), Michael Harkin (UCB Vice-Chancellor and Principal), Joanne Oguzie (UCB Executive Director of HR), Nic Careem, Rebecca Tigue (UCB Sixth Form Principal), Trina Tiernan (Joseph Chamberlain College) and Sonny Carter (UCB sixth form student).

Over 100 students packed the centre to hear Nic talk about Mandela’s legacy and the opportunity the competition gives them, to have their dreams and aspirations for their future, heard. Nic shared his lived experience of protesting against the war in Vietnam as a teenager, working in politics and his altruistic work with people such as Lord John Bird (co-founder of the Big Issue) and Dame Anita Roddick (pioneering founder of The Body Shop and human rights activist). The principles of ‘trade not aid’ and self-help over dependency are fundamental to Nic’s work with the Blue Sky Network, a group of like-minded people who aim to use their skills, connections and experience to help improve the world.

The past few months have seen the Letter to Mandela Competition enhance its inclusive credentials; already open to students and pupils aged 8-18-years-old, whether they are in care, in a traditional education environment or in prison, the competition is now accepting entries in braille, all thanks to the progressive work of a partnership with the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB).

“I’m dumbfounded,” said A level student, Sonny Carter, in the aftermath of Nic’s presentation. “This is everything I stand for.”

"We launched the Letter to Mandela Competition, giving young people across the world a chance to write 'directly' to Madiba. Their voices matter. Their dreams must be heard."

Nic Careem Founder of the House of Commons Mandela Tribute Book and Letter to Mandela Competition

At its core, the competition has one simple objective: to give young people a chance to have their voice heard, encouraging them to reflect, explore and express, in their own words, how their world should be run.

University College Birmingham (UCB) is delighted to join the University of Birmingham and Joseph Chamberlain Sixth Form College as judges for the Midlands entries. If successful, the chosen submissions will form a part of the exceptional letters whose authors will be invited to write their own contribution to the historic House of Commons Mandela Legacy Book. Selected readings by young people will also be released as a podcast on Mandela Day, 18 July 2026. Any funds raised go to supporting children’s causes across the UK.

Having invited and welcomed Nic, our Head of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, Haroon Bashir was impressed by the students’ response: “Nic’s passion, vision and lifelong commitment to social justice made a real impact on everyone in the room,” he said.

“It was a special moment when Professor Michael Harkin signed the iconic green book, paying tribute to Nelson Mandela’s extraordinary legacy. Our students left energised, informed and ready to play their part in shaping a better world.”

Find out more about the competition and how to enter here.