An award-winning young local fashion designer, known for her crochet designs, donated more than 200 beanies to babies as part of giving back to the community.

Lindokuhle Mathebula-Mlambo (31) from Jerusalem in the Masoyi area recently won an award in the category Best Kasi Clothing Brand at the Game Lifestyle Awards. She started her donations in hospitals, giving 240 of her specially crocheted beanies to neonates in need.

Were it not for the assistance of her mother, Petunia Mndawe, she would not have reached all these babies. She was at her side when she started to crochet the hats and showed her how it’s done, and encouraged her not to stop. “I would like to say thank you to her for all the support she gave me, and I believe we are going to do more together. Thank you so much; let’s continue to work together for our precious jewels!

ALSO READ: Masoyi gospel musician aims to inspire people

“I have a soft heart when it comes to babies. This is my way of showing tender love and compassion towards the little ones. So after the elderly, the little ones are the closest to my heart. This initiative is my way of giving back to the community that made me who I am. It is not much, but I believe they will keep their precious tiny heads warm,” she said.

ALSO READ: Rob Ferreira Hospital’s services commended during open day with Mpumalanga MEC

Mathebula-Mlambo added that she would continue to make beanies for babies, “since we are living in an era where love seems to grow cold.” She said the abandoned babies seen on social media and on news melt her heart, and she is determined to make many more such donations in the future. “We have already begun next year’s project,” she said.

Mathebula-Mlambo also said her crocheted brand is built on love and family. “Families boost our confidence and make us feel loved. They are the pillars of our strength and keep us strong. We learn the values of love, respect, faith, hope, caring and kindness towards others. Every child desires to be loved, so it’s love for the little ones that is the motivating factor. My brand is doing this without any sponsors, but a few people did donate what they could, and that contributed to the number of beanies donated this year. If anyone would like to donate, we ensure babies born at all hospitals will benefit. One ball of 100g of yarn can make about four or five beanies. So if you donate one ball, you would’ve donated five beanies.”

For more information, contact Mathebula-Mlambo on 079 086 6606 (regular calls or WhatsApp).