Nelson Mandela was born in 1918 in South Africa. He became actively involved in politics opposing apartheid in the late 1940s. Mandela co-founded the African National Congress Youth League and later became president of South Africa from 1994-1999, being the first Black president elected in a fully representative democratic election. During his presidency, Mandela oversaw the introduction of policies aimed at reducing inequality and establishing universal healthcare, education, electricity, water access and more for all South African citizens.