Speaking at the launch in Houghton on Monday, programme director Elaine Mckay said it was appropriate that the launch of the booklet coincided with the International Volunteer Day.

Making a difference

The booklet explains HIV/Aids, how to prevent it, and volunteers’ rights and responsibilities.

It also lists a number of organizations that could provide more information and translates important technical terms into African dialects such as Zulu, Sotho, Xhosa and Afrikaans.

"The volunteer's guide is about how do I make a difference? It is telling people stories through 46664, Mandela's call to action for HIV," she said.

Mandela gave his prison number to this campaign to remind people that the millions affected by the disease are more than just numbers and statistics.

National campaign

"People are also reminded of how much still needs to be done. The Nelson Mandela Foundation started the national volunteering campaign last year," said Mckay.

She further appealed to people to act on Mandela’s call to all South Africans to take responsibility for the fight against the pandemic.

"We can do this through volunteering and creating moments for change and we hope this booklet will help people to give one minute of their lives to Aids," she said.

One minute

SABC 2 Morning Live presenter and 46664 ambassador Leanne Manas urged people to get involved.

"Give one minute of your life to Aids and make a difference. We all like to push it onto someone else and say we do not have to worry about it, but we do.

"When surveys show that 15-year-olds are among the most sexually active in the country, that is worrying," she said.

Manas said people should take responsibility for their lives and the country and show that collectively they could make a difference.