67 blankets for Nelson Mandela Day took place at Jeppe High School for Girls on Saturday 3 June. This year there were eight big reveals with a 67 Blankets team travelling around the country on the Local Blankets is Lekka tour.
Many people ask why is it called 67 blankets?
The late Mr Mandela spent more than 67 years serving his community, his country and the world. The number is symbolic of how people can start to do the same one small step at a time and so become part of a continuous, global movement for good.
67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela Day is an international non-profit organisation founded by
Carolyn Steyn to commemorate the first democratically elected President of South Africa, Nelson Mandela.
The charity was started in December 2013 when Nelson Mandela’s former assistant, Zelda la Grange, challenged Carolyn Steyn to knit 67 blankets to support the annual Mandela Day to be donated to those in need. Mandela Day was declared an annual international day by the United Nations in 2009, in honour of Nelson Mandela, celebrated each year on the 18th July, being Nelson Mandela’s birthday.
In 2015, 67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela Day was introduced by the South African Department of Correctional Services as part of an offender rehabilitation programme in South African prisons.
Since its establishment, 67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela Day has set three Guinness World Records.
Volunteers , “KnitWits for Madiba”, have made and distributed over 120 000 blankets and many thousands of scarves. These hand-made items are donated to children and adults who are disabled, homeless, elderly and otherwise in need of real warmth during the winter months. 67 Blankets also has branches in other countries around the world.
Carolyn Steyn excitedly addressed the ambassadors, guests and knitters thanking everyone for their generous donations in both time and hard work.
The day was a ray of colour with blankets spread out across the field for everyone to admire .
Who knew knitting would become so trendy.
By Marion Kate
