NAP time at early childhood development (ECD) centres is about to get a whole lot cosier, thanks to a colourful donation from Dyefin Textiles.

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The Umbogintwini-based company recently gifted the Domino Foundation 250kg of offcuts and reject prints featuring beloved Disney characters.

According to Domino Foundation spokesperson Rowan Phillips, the fabric was sent to Othandweni (Place of Love), a safe house supporting survivors through the foundation’s Red Light anti-human-trafficking programme. There, residents got to work repurposing the fabric into vibrant mattress covers for pre-schoolers. But the creativity doesn’t stop there, some of the fabric will also be turned into clothing, toys, shopping bags, and pencil cases, ensuring that every scrap finds a meaningful new purpose.

“Everything produced is destined for some of the ECD centres that partner with Domino Foundation in Amanzimtoti and in the north of Durban,” said Rowan.

Towards the end of 2024, the women of the safe house had been through two months of sewing training.

Gill Hammond, the manager of the safe house, said the women come from knowing virtually nothing about backstitching, basting and bobbins.

“Now, they are well on their way to being competent seamstresses. Some of them see that they could earn a good living with what they have been taught when they leave Othandweni,” said Hammond.

Thembelihle Mkhwanazi, leader of the ECD programme, added that she was delighted at the synergy created when the beneficiaries of one programme came to the aid of beneficiaries of another programme.

Anyone who would like to learn more about how they could partner with either the Red Light or ECD programmes can contact Hammond at restore@domino.org.za or Thembelihle at ecd@domino.org.za.

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