You too can contribute to the gigantic Rainbow Nation Blanket of Hope
By Edward Tsumele, CITYLIFE/ARTS Editor
Non Profit organisation 67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela which recently has announced its collaboration with high impact Non Governmental Organisation Gift of the Givers, who se work impact societies globally is encouraging volunteer knitters to take part in its current venture. The success of the venture, the creation of a gigantic, colorful blanket that hopefully will uplift the spirit of people left battered by the impact of Covid-19 in the past two years, depends on the effort of volunteer knitters.
This venture is to knit a colorful gigantic blanket to be unveiled later this year, and this dream of course can be realized with volunteers making time to do so, and that includes you. This idea of creating this blanket of hope comes against the background of pain and loss suffered by many as they lost friends, colleagues and family members to Covid-19. Sometimes with pain and loss, comes dejection and hopelessness, and hence the need to create a belief that people shall overcome.
And what better way to do this than though a collaborative effort put into a iece of art, such as this blanket of hope.
To celebrate the compassion and resilience of South Africans through a tough two years of Covid-19 and lockdowns, 67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela Day is partnering with NGO Gift of the Givers to create a gigantic Rainbow Nation Blanket of Hope.
With the due date looming, what better way to show our appreciation for the selfless work that the non – profit organisation Gift of the Givers and healthcare workers have done, than by picking up our knitting needles and crochet hooks for a good cause?
“The gift of hope is the biggest gift we can give South Africans during this time of uncertainty,” says 67 Blankets founder and KnitWit-in-chief Carolyn Steyn.
“We are excited about partnering with Gift of the Givers, who exemplify ethical and compassionate leadership, to distribute the thousands of blankets our KnitWits around the country will be producing in all the colours of the rainbow – symbolising our collective hope for the future.”
The founder of Gift of the Givers, Dr Imtiaz Sooliman, said: “Gift of the Givers appreciates the partnership with 67 Blankets for Mandela as this relationship embodies the concept of active citizenry and selflessness where we as a nation stand up and hold hands together to assist the most vulnerable and least endowed within our communities. A blanket is a symbol of hope, bringing warmth, comfort, ease and specifically unconditional love when knitted by a complete stranger for a fellow national. This altruistic action by those who encourage, promote, knit and sponsor the campaign is in an essence an act of deep spirituality for the greater good providing a better life for all in keeping with the ethos of Mandela Day and what the late president epitomised.”
South Africans are invited to rally together over the next few months to help create the Rainbow Nation Blanket of Hope, knitting or crocheting blankets of any size, in bright, vivid, rainbow colours to evoke the warm and generous spirit of our rainbow nation.
You have until the end of March 2022 to get those needles and hooks clicking away to hand in your blankets. The massive ‘combined’ blanket will be laid out at Steyn City School in Johannesburg on 11th May 2022, after which, Gift of the Givers will distribute individual blankets to people in need before the onset of winter.
Join the multi-award-winning, world-record-breaking 67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela and highly respected humanitarian foundation Gift of the Givers, who both represent South Africa’s irrepressible spirit of ubuntu, by helping to craft the Rainbow Nation Blanket of Hope.
More details are available at http://67blankets.co.za/ or by emailing info@67blankets.co.za.