VISITORS to Holy Family College in Glenmore would have to ‘thread lightly’ as they approached the school field on Saturday, June 10. An array of colourful crocheted blankets was spread across the field as the KwaZulu-Natal volunteers from the non-profit organisation, 67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela Day (67 Blankets), welcomed the organisation’s founder, Dame Carolyn Steyn.
67 Blankets is made up of volunteers, affectionately know as ‘KnitWits’ from across South Africa who knit and crochet blankets for needy people who would otherwise be cold in winter. Saturday’s event marked the Durban leg of the non-profit-organisation’s Local Blankets is Lekka road show, which saw Steyn visit sites across the country, including Cape Town, Mossel Bay, Bloemfontein, White River and Johannesburg, before the final stop in Gqeberha on June 15.
The KZN KnitWits set themselves the goal of creating 670 handmade blankets for this year’s 67 Blankets winter drive – a number they far exceeded as they laid out over 1 406 blankets at Holy Family College on Saturday.
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Commenting on the display, Steyn said, “The call-out to each region was 670 blankets. Quite clearly, the KZN KnitWits for Madiba, our 67 Blankets family, have created much more!”
KZN ambassador and Manor Gardens resident, Franki Hills Carte, added, “Thank you so much to every single person who supported 67 Blankets, especially those who made a square or blanket. We definitely created more blankets than expected for which we are really grateful. “
Where there’s a ‘wool’ there’s a way
Steyn – a recipient of the Knight of the French National Order of Merit, who is internationally recognised for her contributions to philanthropy, the arts and media – founded 67 Blankets nine years ago. She founded the NPO after she was challenged by the late President Nelson Mandela’s assistant, Zelda le Grange, to make 67 blankets for Nelson Mandela Day.
“When I was challenged by Zelda to make 67 blankets in time for Nelson Mandela Day in 2014, I did not realise how a simple idea, a ball of wool and a crochet hook could snowball into a movement. I’m so proud – it’s the biggest gift that has ever been given to me. So many lives have been changed. I am so proud of our ambassadors around the country for the incredible work they lead in galvanising the support of so many people who want to make a difference, stitch by stitch,” said Steyn.
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Ten years later, the movement has grown from strength to strength.
“It seemed like such an impossible task at the time, but Madiba said it always seems impossible until it’s done. Now, we are almost ten years into 67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela Day, and so many thousands of people around the country and around the world have joined what we call ‘The knitting revolution for Madiba’. Stitch by stitch, we pledge to keep thousands upon thousands of people warmer over all the winters to come,” said Steyn.
Steyn added that the movement honours Nelson Mandela’s legacy.
“I was lucky enough to have spent a lot of one-on-one time with Madiba. My husband, Doe, and Madiba had a father-son relationship. I think Madiba is smiling down on all this work done in his name – this colourful, bright, warm movement where we are helping those in need,” said Steyn.
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