Clifford Williams continues to learn what it means to be free after recently being released from 42 years of wrongful incarceration, and we at Operation New Hope are blessed to assist him in this new way of life.

Struggle by Nelson Mandela

Dr. Makaziwe Mandela and her daughter Tukwini Mandela, who were in Jacksonville to celebrate the 1st Nelson Mandela International Day Jax, attended a Ready4Work graduation ceremony at our office. When the Mandelas learned about Clifford Williams story of struggle and recent release, they were moved. Dr. Mandela related to Williams’ story of imprisonment because she spent her childhood with a father, Nelson Mandela, behind bars. Wishing to honor Williams’ years of wrongful imprisonment, she presented him with prints of her father’s “Struggle Series.”

During a moving presentation, Mandela said to Williams, “You struggled but God was with you all along.” Prints of the charcoal drawings created by Nelson Mandela during his later years of life tell a story of Imprisonment, Struggle, Unity, Freedom and Future. The images are a beautiful metaphor of Mr. Williams’ life.

To watch a video of the presentation – click here.