67 steps ahead with 67 blankets
Since the beginning of '67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela Day', they have distributed more than 30 000 blankets across the globe.
Stitch by stitch they are knitting the entire world together, all in the name of Nelson Mandela.
In December, 2013, Zelda la Grange, late former President Nelson Mandela’s trusted assistant, presented philanthropist and ‘Arts Angel’, Carolyn Steyn with a challenge: knit, sew or crocheting 67 blankets. These blankets would then be distributed to those in need on Mandela Day.
Carolyn gladly accepted Zelda’s challenge, but soon realised that she would not be able to achieve it alone. She then called on her friends for help and developed a Facebook group called 67 Blankets for Mandela Day. In just days hundreds of people from around the world had pledged to knit a blanket for Nelson Mandela Day.
Since then, 67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela Day has transformed itself into what some are calling a ‘movement’ – a movement that has captured the attention of many South Africans, international celebrities, corporates and KnitWits for Madiba in Australia, Belgium, Canada, Germany, Cyprus, London, United States and India.
Since the beginning of this initiative, they have distributed more than 30 000 blankets across the globe.
On Friday, 8 September, Carolyn, accompanied by the Flamingo Horticulture team paid a visit to the boys at Ikusasa Community Development Centre, a registered non-profit organisation that takes care of boys between the age of six and 17 who are in need of care and protection. This includes orphans and abused children as well as those living on the streets.
After this organisation was nominated, 14 women from Flamingo Horticulture dedicated three weeks of their time to knit 67 blankets for these boys.
“We are knitting the country back together. To us, every day is Mandela Day, that’s why we take it 67 steps further. Where you come from does not determine who you are. It’s where you’re going that really matters,” she said.
As a way of thanking Carolyn and her team, the boys put on an outstanding performance where they sang, danced and played some drums.
Donald Nyirende, CEO of Ikusasa, would like to thank Carolyn and the tremendous team from Flamingo Horticulture for their visit and said he trusts that the boys will think of them every time they wrap the blankets around themselves.
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