Durban North residents help homeless with water resistant roll up mats

DURBAN North residents Karen Davies and Shani Wood of Together for Durban are transforming ordinary shopping packets into water resistant, roll up mats for the homeless.

While crocheting ‘plarn’ or plastic yarn is a concept that has spread far and wide, putting it to practical use for society’s most vulnerable, is a unique way to reuse a substance destined for the overflowing landfill.

“I use 600 – 700 bags per mat. That’s a lot of bags being kept out of the dump,” said Davies.

Davies strategically cuts the plastic packets into rings which are linked together to form a chain. She then sets to work crocheting the plastic.

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She explained that the initiative has a three fold effect- recycling, helping the homeless and teaching skills development that can help the unemployed to generate an income.

“I have made one mat so far, which I gave away. I can make one a day if I am at home, but the phone has been ringing off the hook since we shared a Facebook post about it,” she said.

When Wood shared a post on the Together for Durban Facebook page, calling on the community to support the initiative, some 3800 people reacted to the post. Davies was then inundated with plastic packet donations.

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“I am gobsmacked – I have been totally overwhelmed by the positive response,” said Davies who is welcoming more packets since each mat is made up of hundreds of bags.

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