Jeppe Girls’ 67 Blankets effort rewarded
“The girls really contributed to the project from day one. Presenting the cheque to the school is my show of support for my school.”
At an assembly held on November 17, Jeppe High School for Girls received a cheque for R223 000 for its incredible effort in the 67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela project.
The handover was from former Jeppe Girls learner Carolyn Steyn.
The school made 657 blankets for Mandela Day this year.
Steyn said the school has been incredibly supportive and made thousands of blankets since the inception of the 67 Blankets project four years ago.
“The girls really contributed to the project from day one. Presenting the cheque to the school is my show of support for my school,” she said.
Steyn said they are busy around the country, in schools and prisons making blankets for the Massive Mandela Masterpiece (MMM) project.
“In April next year we will lay out the blankets in the correct pattern and every blanket that you see here today is going to be a pixel in the face of Mandela,” said Steyn.
The school’s headmistress Dina Gonçalves said she is grateful for the support shown by Steyn.
“I feel loved and supported. The girls will continue to support the project,” she said.
In 2015, a vibrant whirligig of colours graced the grounds leading up to the Union Buildings in Pretoria when the 67 Blankets initiative broke a world record with its 3 377 square metre crocheted blanket, which was created by KnitWits for Madiba – an endearing name given to all the dedicated people who crocheted and knitted squares for this remarkable project.
The project has since grown into an international movement, with KnitWits for Madiba gathering from all corners of the world to knit, crochet or sew squares and ultimately create blankets to keep people warm in winter.
