Buy a Bangle, Change a Life.

Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela

For close to three years we’ve dedicated many hours to the 46664 Bangle project – and we’ve done our best to keep promoting the good work of this inspiring initiative in support of the 46664 campaign of the Nelson Mandela Foundation.

It requires consistent focus for a Blog to be interesting and useful, and we’re no longer able to maintain a regular blog feed for the 46664 Bangle on this particular web site.

This blog is rich with content on Madiba, 46664, the 46664 Bangle, news from the Nelson Mandela Foundation, and many humanitarian and HIV AIDS-related stories and updates. Feel free to browse our archives and enjoy the wealth of information!

We’re active on Facebook and Twitter – please do join our conversations there and talk to others about this great initiative; encouraging others to buy a 46664 Bangle.

Also … remember Nelson Mandela Day – not only on July 18, which is Nelson Mandela’s birthday – but consider what you can do every day, in honor of Madiba's service to humanity and his legacy of social justice.

Thank you for your continued support!

Nelson Mandela Foundation Recommends Book As Compelling Read

Head of the Nelson Mandela Foundation’s Memory Programme, Verne Harris, spoke recently on the subject “Madiba, Memory and the Work of Justice” at the 18th Alan Paton Lecture.

Harris has also recommended Hugh Lewin’s new book, Stones against the Mirror: Friendship in the Time of the South African Struggle, one of several new autobiographies and biographies about the South African struggle.

Lewin’s book is described as, "exemplary... offers a sustained reflection on memory and evidence, and confronts the inevitable fictional fashioning which informs any and every work of narrating the past."

Source: The Nelson Mandela Foundation

@NelsonMandela = New Twitter Identity

Is Madiba tweeting? Well, not quite, but the Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory is happy to announce that they have secured "@NelsonMandela" as their official Twitter identity.

The Twitter account had been registered by an online consultant in the UK, who was happy to hand over the name to the centre. More details here.

Watch out for more social media activity from the Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory, through their official Facebook, YouTube and Flickr profiles - all excellent places to keep up to date with information about Living the Legacy of Nelson Mandela.

Zenani Mandela Scholarship Focuses on Road Safety

Photo courtesy of the Nelson Mandela Foundation

The Zenani Mandela Road Safety Scholarship was launched this week to focus on road safety, in memory of Nelson Mandela's great-granddaughter, who was tragically killed in a car crash last year.

Launching the Zenani Mandela Road Safety Scholarship, Zoleka Mandela said, “A crash robbed me of my daughter, a beautiful, bright 13-year-old who was full of energy and hope for the future.

“I will never recover from this, nor will my family. Parents and families should not have to be put through tragedies like this. All too often they are. My heart is already broken, but what makes this even worse is that so often road accidents are preventable.

“We must all support the United Nations Decade of Action for Road Safety – our children’s lives are at stake."

Public to Help Identify Nelson Mandela Photos

Photo courtesy of the Nelson Mandela Foundation

The Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory is appealing to the public to assist in finding missing information to accompany many photographs in their collection.

Over the years, they’ve received many photographs taken of Nelson Mandela and now they need details of those occasions so that they can archive them accurately.

“We are asking the public to help build this resource which will be richer when we have more information. It is also so that the public can feel they are part of this,” said communications manager, Sello Hatang.

Recognize yourself in any of these photographs? Contact the Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory at nmf@nelsonmandela.org and help complete the picture.

Nelson Mandela Foundation Publishes Case Studies

At first, the Nelson Mandela Foundation created an einvornment for discussing the issue of HIV AIDS, and the social and cultural implications of combating this disease in South Africa. The discussions allowed people to come together and openly discuss their fears, the prejudices they encountered, and their thoughts on what steps to take to prevent HIV AIDS in their communities.

It wasn’t long before the Nelson Mandela Foundation recognized that these structured conversations were also an excellent way of approaching the topic of xenophobia, and addressing the violence that broke out in South African townships in 2008. Trained facilitators conducted community conversations to “get to the root causes of the attacks” and these social cohesion dialogs soon became a platform for reconciliation and healing.

Read more about the newly-published social cohesion booklet and download case studies on the day to day struggles of foreigners in South Africa and how to heal communities.

Source: The Nelson Mandela Foundation

New 46664 Clothing to Raise Funds and Promote Mandela's Humanitarian Legacy

The Nelson Mandela Fundation plans to launch a clothing range in August to raise funds and promote Mandela's humanitarian legacy. Nelson Mandela Foundation CEO and 46664 board member, Achmat Dangor, said it could no longer depend on philanthropy to fund awareness-raising and projects like Nelson Mandela Day.

"46664 needs reliable and sustainable income streams, something we believe the 46664 apparel can significantly contribute to," he said.

"There's resistance to commercialisation of Mandela," he continued, however, "We will not use Madiba's image or name in any of our merchandise... we will use his legacy, what he stands for...we do not need to use his face," Dangor said. The only logos or slogans featured would be the number '46664' and the image of an outstretched hand - reminding pepole of the 46664 saying,"It's In Our Hands".

Like the 46664 Bangle project (the bracelet engraved with Nelson Mandela's hand and his prisoner number), when you buy 46664 clothing you are investing in a process that will help spread the legacy of Nelson Mandela by supporting the long-term sustainability of 46664. As Achmat Dangor says, “You will also be empowering young people in communities out there and creating a platform for global change.”

Source: The Nelson Mandela Foundation and the 46664 Campaign.

Revealed: 2005 Photo of Barack Obama Meeting Nelson Mandela

Image courtesy of The Sunday Times

A picture of Nelson Mandela's only meeting with US President Barack Obama now sits on the South African icon's desk, alongside a photo of Muhammad Ali.

Published in February 2011 for the first time, the photograph shows Obama, then a little-known junior Senator, having his one and only meeting with Nelson Mandela, in a hotel room in Washington, DC, in May 2005.

Even the Nelson Mandela Foundation admitted they had “no idea” the two men had ever met – until Obama sent the photograph to Mandela as a gift last year, inscribed with the words, “An inspiration to us all”.

Verne Harris, Mandela's chief archivist, said: "There is no archival record of that meeting that we've been able to locate, apart from this photograph," he said. "The meeting was not part of the schedule, but someone said, 'Madiba, look, you have to meet Senator Obama. He said, 'Great I'm happy to do that.'

11 February ~ Nelson Mandela's Release from Prison and Egypt's Freedom

11th February turned out to be a grand day for democracy, indeed. Not only was it the 21-year anniversary of Nelson Mandela’s release from prison, but today was also a day for celebration in Egypt as the 30-year rule of President Hosni Mubarak came to an end.


An Egyption army officer read out a statement acknowledging, "There is no legitimacy other than that of the people".


As crowds cheered in Cairo’s Tahrir Square, chanting, "Egypt is free!" , thousands in South Africa also remembered their first taste of freedom in 1990, when Nelson Mandela walked out of Victor Verster prison, a free man.


Read the speech Nelson Mandela delivered on that day, and find out more about how he started his first day of freedom on 12th February, 1990.


We celebrate with Egypt and wish them a peaceful and happy transition to free and fair, democratic elections.

AIDS2031 Book Launched at Nelson Mandela Foundation

A publication initiated by the aids2031 consortium, AIDS: Taking a Long-Term View, is launched at the Nelson Mandela Foundation.

The book’s key message is that the fight against AIDS is a generations-long challenge that requires a new emphasis on long-term planning, financial backing, political commitment and leadership.

Initiated by UNAIDS in 2007, aids2031 is a consortium of partners who have come together to assess lessons learned about the AIDS response, as well as consider the implications of the changing world around AIDS, in order to chart options for the long-term response.

Sharply reducing the number of new infections and AIDS deaths by 2031 requires new ways of thinking about AIDS and responding to the challenges that the pandemic poses.

The 46664 Bangle project raises awareness of social issues such as HIV AIDS prevention, and every sale of the official 46664 Bangle provides income for people in need.

Source: The Nelson Mandela Foundation

Madiba Is Well – International Concern About Nelson Mandela

The news of Nelson Mandela being admitted to hospital this week was met with worldwide concern, and none more so than in South Africa, where the apartheid icon continues to unite the country through his legacy of humble leadership and reconciliation.

As media swarmed around Milpark Hospital in Johannesburg, South Africa, President Jacob Zuma called on journalists to “balance the quest for stories with acting within the bounds of human decency and ensuring the respect for human dignity.”

Surgeon General Vejaynand Ramlakan said in this video interview that Nelson Mandela was “in high spirits. Medically, at present, there is no need to panic.” Ramlakan told reporters, “His amazing positive attitude allows him to cope with the difficulties of old age, with the greatest of grace”.

The 46664 Bangle team in the US wishes Madiba well and tends to agree with Sizwe Mbatha, 28, a bank consultant in South Africa, who said, “Yes, he is a world icon but he is also a human being and he deserves his privacy. We should all just let him rest now."

See official statement on the Nelson Mandela Foundation web site.

Nelson Mandela Foundation on Xenophobia

Xenophobia - a word most people had never heard of, let alone knew how to pronounce, until 2008 when South Africa experienced a violent outbreak of xenophobic behavior.

Soon, it became the ugly buzzword used to describe the intolerance of migrant workers and illegal immigrants - the "hatred or fear of foreigners or strangers or of their politics or culture". Attacks on these foreigners highlighted the underlying social issues causing thousands of people to leave their country in search of a better life in South Africa, as well as the response from struggling communities who see the influx of foreigners as a threat to their own income and job opportunities.

The Nelson Mandela Foundation recently facilitated a series of dialogues in an effort to build social cohesion and understanding between South Africans and foreign nationals. The Foundation has just released a book capturing this two-year-long process, its achievements and challenges.

Read more about key principles such as community ownership, inclusivity, mutual respect and fundamental human rights.

Ricky Gervais in Support of 46664 Campaign

Ricky Gervais and 46664 - It's In Our Hands

Funny man, Ricky Gervais, (hosting the Golden Globes tonight – January 16th) gets serious in this video, in support of the Nelson Mandela Foundation 46664. He mentions AIDS statistics
One in four people in sub-Saharan Africa are living with HIV AIDS.

HIV AIDS has killed more people in the last decade than all the wars and disasters of the past fifty years.

And finishes with the 46664 slogan, “It’s In Our Hands” - it’s in our hands to make a difference.

Happy New Year!

The year draws to a close, and as people come together to celebrate with family, friends and fireworks; contemplating New Year resolutions, and getting ready for 2011, some are also sharing their wishes and hopes on websites like the 1 Million Resolution Challenge.

We look back on a year that marked the 20-year anniversary of Nelson Mandela being released from prison, and it was also the year we saw the long-awaited release of fellow Nobel Peace Laureate and fighter for democracy, Aung San Suu Kyi.


Both Madiba and Aung San Suu Kyi appeared in the top 10 most admired men and women, according to a recent US poll, along with Bill Gates, the Dalai Lama, Hillary Clinton, Michelle Obama, Queen Elizabeth and Margaret Thatcher.

Thank you to those who supported the 46664 Bangle project, and for your belief in our efforts to make a difference, inspired by Nelson Mandela. We wish you a year filled with joy, peace, and good health - Happy New Year!

46664 Ambassador, Annie Lennox

Born on December 25th, Annie Lennox talks about how her new album, A Christmas Cornucopia, was inspired by her working class background and nostalgia for the spirit of Christmas.

"People love to touch base with something that is a bit traditional and is about celebration. Even if they are not church-goers, people will pop into church and sing a few Christmas carols. It's a nice thing, especially if people have kids."

Annie is becoming increasingly recognized for her AIDS/HIV charity work on behalf of Nelson Mandela's 46664 charity and The Sing Campaign, which she established in 2007. This year, she was named International Goodwill Ambassador for the Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS called UNAIDS.

Buying a 46664 Bangle Bracelet Makes a Positive Impact on Those in Need

Annie has even teamed up with the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, by becoming his unpaid HIV ambassador. She has become a Scottish ambassador for HIV/AIDS, through the Scottish parliament.

"There is a huge pandemic in sub-Saharan Africa and all around the world but in the UK, we still have an issue with HIV and AIDS and we need to address it, especially when it comes to young people. I just feel that was a way to help me broaden my platform.

Annie’s words about the nobility of the human race sets the tone for a Christmas and New Year where we “support others to help themselves”.

Community Conversations Bring Awareness to HIV AIDS Epidemic in South Africa

Community discussions identify

the drivers of the spread of AIDS

World AIDS Day may be over, but the focus on how to deal with the epidemic continues in South Africa.

This year, the South African theme for World AIDS Day was “I am responsible. We are responsible. South Africa is taking responsibility,” and the Nelson Mandela Foundation commemorated the day by hosting community conversations across the country. Men, women and youth engaged in conversation on how South Africans can take responsibility for responding to the epidemic and its impact.

Groups discussed misconceptions surrounding HIV AIDS, particularly the belief that raping a virgin “cures” HIV. Some of the main drivers of the epidemic identified were substance abuse, prostitution and incest, which contribute significantly to the spread of the virus. It was also felt that a sense of community and ubuntu (“caring for one another”) had been lost, leading to increased stigmatization of those who were HIV positive.

Emphasis was placed on encouraging strong family and community value systems, establishing support groups and offering an integrated approach to HIV counseling and testing that would include family testing.

Read more here about how these discussion help to increase awareness and bring about change in communities affected by HIV/AIDS.

Source: The Nelson Mandela Foundation

Non-Discrimination is Focus of Human Rights Day, 10 December

December 10th is the opportunity to participate in Human Rights Day; advocating non-discrimination, organizing activities, raising awareness and reaching out to your local communities.

Acting alone or in groups within their communities, every day human rights defenders work to end discrimination by campaigning for equitable and effective laws, reporting and investigating human rights violations and supporting victims.

"Discrimination targets individuals and groups that are vulnerable to attack: the disabled, women and girls, the poor, migrants, minorities, and all those who are perceived as different.
... But these victims of discrimination are not alone. The United Nations is standing with them, committed to defending the rights of all, and particularly the most vulnerable. That is our identity and our mission." ~ United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon

We’re proud of, and inspired by, Nelson Mandela and Aung San Suu Kyi, who are icons recognized worldwide for standing up for human rights. And we also recognize the power of the individual to make a difference. Join us in celebrating Human Rights Day.

Speak up … Stop discrimination. Click here for ideas on how to be part of a campaign that brings awareness to Human Rights Day.

Read the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, proclaimed on December 10, 1948.

World AIDS Day - December 1st

Wearing the official 46664 Bangle shows your support of social issues such as the fight against HIV AIDS

Join the 46664 Bangle team on December 1 and observe the 22nd annual World AIDS Day. Thousands of individuals and organizations will mark this day by raising awareness of HIV AIDS, with the intention of reducing global infection rates and helping orphaned children affected by HIV AIDS.

The 46664 Bangle project plays a committed role in raising awareness of HIV AIDS through the official 46664 Bangle bracelet (on the left), which is engraved with Nelson Mandela's prisioner number. Nelson Mandela's legacy is now being used in a new struggle - the fight against HIV AIDS. The 46664 Bangle is handcrafted in South Africa to raise funds for HIV AIDS prevention projects and to create jobs for communities most affected by this global disease.

There’s positive news about the progress that’s been made in combating this disease as infection rates are falling, but the fight is not over yet. According to the UN, in 2009 there were 2.6m new HIV infections and 1.8m people died from AIDS-related illnesses.

On December 1, we remember those who lost the fight against AIDS, show compassion to those suffering from AIDS, and re-commit to promoting the prevention of this global disease.

What will you do on World AIDS Day?

• Know your status – get tested
• Know your partner’s status
• Encourage your friends to know their status
• Be responsible – prevention, prevention, prevention. Choose condoms to dramatically reduce the chances of infection
• Wear and talk about the official 46664 Bangle bracelet – not just on World AIDS Day … every time you wear your 46664 Bangle, you make a statement of responsibility and increase awareness about HIV AIDS

Create awareness – post a red ribbon as your Facebook profile photo, or go for a double whammy – use our red ribbon photos of the 46664 Bangle, and you’ll also be telling people about the 46664 Bangle project which creates much-needed income in areas with HIV AIDS statistics.

The 46664 Bangle bracelet is available in copper, silver, gold and platinum, and with prices ranging from $24.95 to $17,760 ... there's a bangle to suit everyone's budget.

Buy a Bangle ... Change a Life.

Sometimes it's just too easy to get caught up in what's wrong with the world. Yes, every part of our planet needs help in some way - poverty, disease, lack of education, human rights, political freedom, protecting the environment - they're all major global issues which deserve our serious attention.

Today on Thanksgiving in the US, we're focusing on the positive. In no particular order (sounds like DWTS!), we're grateful for:

1. Access to clean drinking water with no worry about cholera @PlanetWaterLive


2. The choice to use condoms and prevent HIV @talkHIV


3. The ability to get tested, learn our status & prevent HIV @HIVictorious


4. Our political freedom and democracy @hrw


5. Those who make a difference and won't accept the status quo @changemakers


6. Organizations like @dosomething who plant seeds of social responsibility amongst youth


7. Supporters who wear the 46664 Bangle and help create jobs for those in need


8. Individual voices like @bonostreetteam who volunteer their time to raise awareness of social issues


9. Sound logic, like "World Change Starts with Educated Children" @RoomtoRead


10. The #MDGs as a reminder of how lucky we are @WeCanEndPoverty
    

Make your own Thanksgiving list! It'll put a smile on your face and pack a little punch to that turkey stuffing. Happy Thanksgiving from the 46664 Bangle team in the US.

Nelson Mandela Meets Bafana Bafana and US Football Team

Smiles all round, as the United States football (soccer) team and South Africa's Bafana Bafana visited Nelson Mandela at his office in Johannesburg today, November 18th.

The coach of the victorious US team, Bob Bradley, presented Mr Mandela with a team shirt and told him, “It is an honour for us to be here today.”

Source: Nelson Mandela Foundation

With a 1-0 win for the US team, Wednesday night’s Nelson Mandela Challenge in Cape Town may have been a disappointment for South Africa, but as one South African tweeted after the match, "Boys you played well. Let's share Madiba with Americans. Let them take cup - we have HIM."