Which organization did Nelson Mandela help found in 1944?

Nelson Mandela helped found the African National Congress Youth League in 1944.

The ANC Youth League was created by younger African National Congress activists who wanted a more energetic and assertive approach to opposing white minority rule. Mandela was one of its founding figures, alongside Anton Lembede, Walter Sisulu, Oliver Tambo, and others. Lembede became its first president.

The league later played an important role in shaping ANC resistance strategy. Its members promoted mass political action and helped push the ANC toward the Programme of Action adopted in 1949. A common mix-up is confusing the Youth League with the ANC itself: the African National Congress was founded in 1912, while its youth organization was established decades later in 1944.