July 18th is International Nelson Mandela Day. It's especially significant since the former South African president would have been a hundred years old this year. The U.N. Secretary-General says Mandela embodied the highest values of the world body. CGTN's William Denselow reports from New York.

Nelson Mandela's legacy continues to grow on what would have been his 100th birthday.

PENNY ABEYWARDENA NYC'S COMMISSIONER FOR INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS "Mandela is always a reminder to do more, to do more, you can never rest, there is so much more we need to push."

Mandela, who died in 2013, said that while poverty persists there is no true freedom. This year's International Nelson Mandela Day is dedicated to his fight to end poverty and promote social justice. In New York's Harlem neighborhood, members of the United Nations are working in a community garden for 67 minutes. The timing signifies the 67 years of public service given by Mandela. Community leaders say it's important for local residents to see these senior UN officials in person.

TONY HILLERY FOUNDER, HARLEM GROWN "If you see them, you can actually envision being that one day so that's all part of our work here and this is beyond a magical day for me."

At the United Nations, the secretary general celebrated Mandela's centennial birthday.

ANTONIO GUTERRES UN SECRETARY-GENERAL "Let us work for a better world we know can exist. How can we know such a thing? Because Nelson Mandela showed us. He demonstrated by his life's work that no obstacle is unsurmountable."

It's not just on Mandela's birthday that the UN is celebrating his life and mission.

WILLIAM DENSELOW NEW YORK "On September 24th, the UN will host a summit in his name. The focus will be on global peace and serves as another opportunity for the global community to build on Nelson Mandela's legacy. William Denselow, CGTN, New York."