Thousands of scarves distribut

Photo: //67blankets.co.za/

Thousands of scarves distributed for Mandela Day

The 67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela Day team kicked off their annual Secret Scarf Mission, fondly known as the #SSS on 8 July 2020.

Thousands of scarves distribut

Photo: //67blankets.co.za/

Philanthropist and founder of 67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela Day, Carolyn Steyn has called on South Africans to knit scarves for the organisation’s annual Secret Scarf Mission.

The Secret Scarf Mission

Radio 702 reports that the project has managed to keep many underprivileged South Africans warm with the distribution of scarves over the years. Now the ‘knitwits’ of the project completed yet another mission this past Wednesday, 8 July 2020. The mission sees scarves distributed at sites around the country for people to take to keep them warm during South Africa’s winter.

Carolyn spoke to Mandy Wiener on The Midday Report to share more on the initiative saying that they want to bring some love and brightness to South Africa.

“Once a year we bring some warmth, some colour and love and brightness to our country. Thousands and thousands of scarves get churned out and on a day in Mandela month, we chose yesterday, we go out to parks, roads around trees, parking metres, lamp posts …. we tie our scarves and it looks like this wonderful winter wonderland. There is also a love note attached to each scarf.”

It is reported that each scarf reads: “I am not lost. If you are cold and need me, please take me. Love, 67 Blankets xxx!”

Looking back

This is the 5th year that 67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela Day hosted this nationwide initiative. So, how did all of this start?

In December 2013, Zelda la Grange, late former President Nelson Mandela’s trusted assistant, presented philanthropist and ‘Arts Angel’, Carolyn with a challenge: knit, sew or crochet 67 blankets! These blankets would then be distributed to those in need on Mandela Day. Carolyn gladly accepted Zelda’s challenge but soon realised that she wouldn’t be able to achieve it alone.

She called on her friends for help and developed a Facebook group called “67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela Day”.  In just days, hundreds of people from around the world had pledged to knit a blanket for Nelson Mandela Day.

Since then, 67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela Day has transformed into what some are calling a “movement” – a movement that has captured the attention of many South African and international celebrities as well as corporates and “KnitWits for Madiba”  in Australia, Belgium, Canada, Germany, Cyprus, London, the US and India.