Pretoria decorated white for frontline workers
The group have decorated the streets with 300 white ribbons and handed out 2 000 letters of hope and encouragement across the area.
The leafy Waverley suburb in Pretoria Moot were decorated with white ribbons, thanks to the efforts of the youth ministry group at the Reformed Church Totiusdal.
Henning Noëth from the church confirmed to Rekord that the idea of decorating the streets of Pretoria with white ribbons forms part of the #witstrikkie (white ribbon) initiative by Solidariteit Helping Hand.
Helping Hand launched the project in 2020 during the first wave of Covid-19 to honour and pay tribute to people working on the front line like doctors, nurses, teachers, cleaning staff and other essential workers.
“Helping Hand went to Netcare Unitas Hospital to wrap a white ribbon around the hospital to honour those who serve our people every day during this pandemic, putting their lives and health at risk,” Noëth said.
Marisha Hermann, a youth ministry member at the church, explained to Rekord how the initiative came to life in the community.
“Hendrik van der Westhuizen from the Moot came with the idea of white ribbons after seeing the initiative overseas.
“After that, Solidariteit Helping Hand officially launched the project, urging people from all over to wear white ribbons in tribute to frontline workers. We thought it well to get involved as well, creating some awareness on a more local level and to create some hope,” she said.
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By Monday, 1 February, Hermann and her youth group had hung 300 white ribbons in the streets and distributed approximately 2 000 letters of hope and encouragement in residents ‘mailboxes.
“The youth of the Reformed Church Totiusdal cordially invites you to take to the streets of Waverley this coming weekend,” said Hermann last week.
The group have decorated the streets with 300 white ribbons and handed out 2 000 letters of hope and encouragement across the area.
“The white ribbons serves as a reminder of the selflessness of all front-line workers during this time, but also represents anything that is precious and valuable to you. If you see of these ribbons, take a photo and upload it to your social media with the hashtag #witstrik,” Hermann said in a message to the community last week.
“With this project we hope to touch the hearts of many, Our hearts have also been touched by their dedication and hard work. Thus far we’ve had so much positive feedback. Many of our ribbons were placed along the houses of front-line workers, to thank them for their hard work.
“We hope to convey to people through this initiative that you are not alone, and we hope that this project continues on and keeps on inspiring people,” she concluded.
Video: (The song was written by Henning Noëth especially for this project)
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