by Maya
“46664 was my prison number. For over eighteen years I was imprisoned on Robben Island, known as a number. Millions of people today infected with HIV are just that, a number. They too, are serving a prison sentence, for life. This is why I am allowing my prison number 466/64 to brand this campaign. It is my wish for 46664 to be used in this way.” – Nelson Mandela
Some weeks ago we published a post about jewelry and I remember that we all shared the opinion that jewelry is supposed to have a personal meaning. Recently I came across a very special piece of jewelry through a friend. It does not only have a meaning but also gives you the opportunity to do something meaningful: the Nelson Mandela 46664 bangle.
The 46664 Bangle initiative was launched in 2008 in celebration of Nelson Mandela’s 90th birthday. It is part of the 46664 campaign that aims to raise awareness of HIV and Aids and supports programs that are meant to help African people affected by the virus. The design contains Mandela’s Robben Island prison number and an imprint of his hand. The bangle is available in copper, silver, gold and platinum which are South African natural resources. The bangle is handcrafted in South Africa by craftsmen whose lives have been touched by HIV/AIDS. It can be bought through the official campaign website http://bangles.46664.com/website/content/index.php or through Wempe in Germany http://www.wempe.de/artikel-1028-bereich-bangles-st-bl-schmuck.htm
