Stitching together a sense of community
At the time of going to print, 501 blankets had been delivered to the organiser, Ms Carolyn Steyn.
Jeppe High School for Girls is closed to hitting its target for this year’s 67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela drive.
The school set 670 blankets as its target this year.
At the time of going to print, 501 blankets had been delivered to the organiser, Ms Carolyn Steyn.
The drive was first initiated by Jeppe High School for Girls former pupil, Ms Steyn. The project has now grown to a worldwide group of knitters, who make blankets by hand for those in need.
The Jeppe High School for Girls’ public relations officer, Ms Carole Heming, said the school made 659 blankets last year .
“That contribution helped South Africa to achieve the Guinness World Record for the largest hand-made blanket in the world. It was 3 377 square metres. The blankets were made by hand for those in need,” she said.
She said South Africa held the status for nine months until January 31 this year, when a group of women in Chennai, India, became the new title holders.
“They finished 11 148 square metres. That is about the size of one and a half football fields,” she said.
Ms Heming said the drive has intensified a sense of community to the school’s stakeholders.
“Turning stitches into squares, squares to blankets and stitches to warmth once more. The blanket drive has brought a wonderful feeling of community to the school and the girls love creating their masterpieces,” she said.
The blankets will be sent to Cape Town where they will be displayed outside Drakenstein on April 22.
“Once the record attempt is over, our blankets will be returned to us so that we can distribute them to those in need in our community,” said Ms Heming.
