67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela Day Ambassadors got a head start on their mission to thread South Africa together with warmth and support this year. Here are a few highlights from their national road trip!
South Africa (21 June, 2023) — As South Africans save a little extra, collect what they can and pencil in some more time to do good things for others ahead of Nelson Mandela Day on 18 July, 67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela Day got a head start with a one-of-a-kind national tour road trip.
Regional ambassadors for the cause that’s been making a difference stitch by stitch since 2014 were asked to make as much noise about the event as possible ahead of Mandela Day so that blankets could be ready to rumble ahead of winter.
The aim was for each region to create 670 blankets while ambassadors were asked to create big displays of blanket beauty to encourage contributions. Beginning in April, the national road trip dubbed Local Blankets is Lekka kicked off in Cape Town and trekked throughout the country until reaching Gqeberha last week.
Because every day should be Mandela Day, we think the initiative was a fantastic gear-shift to get communities involved in bettering the lives of South Africans who need it most.
Without further ado…
Highlights From our Favourite Tour of the Year
1. Nearly 2000 blankets were hand-knitted in KwaZulu-Natal.
Communities in and around KwaZulu-Natal joined forces to make the mission a success, largely thanks to the Holy Family College.
2. The Bay ‘KnitWits’ for Madiba Who Created This Pixelated Masterpiece
Hundreds of blankets went to people in Gqeberha and the blanket art will become an exhibition set to remind people what enough KnitWits can do!
3. Art Blankets From White River Knitted That Proudly South African Touch
That extra effort makes receiving these blankets even more heartwarming.
4. Jeppe High School for Girls Had Their Field Turn Into a Kaleidoscope
The school has often taken part in blanket challenges and helped achieve world records.
5. A Mandela Masterpiece Was Knitted to Perfection
Lazetha Lotter created the work of art as a gorgeous tribute to Madiba.
6. It Rained Blankets in Steyn City!
7. Proudly Capetonian Blankets Were Created
A gatsby, Table Mountain, penguins and other iconic Mother City pieces were all created by locals.
8. The Stormers Turned Into Crochet
We love this look for them!
Just like the blankets, the big displays of knitted love all came together little by little. Schools, the elderly, longtime KnitWits and newbies all rallied a lot of effort to make the bigger picture come together. Behind the thousands of blankets, there are a million moments of good. Behind one blanket is one person who decided to act for someone else’s benefit.
Thanks to them, fewer people will be cold this winter and perhaps more importantly, fewer will feel forgotten.
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