Winter knitting campaign wraps up warmly

Craig Doré - Med-Lemon (GSK), Amanda Blankfield - MaAfrika Tikkun, Koketso Ramonwana and Karabo Molwantwa of Kopanong Creche.

The campaign sponsors a virtuous cycle in which communities are paid to knit scarves that are then distributed to keep those in need wrapped up warmly during winter. The campaign is run in conjunction with MaAfrika Tikkun, a community organisation that works with impoverished communities and vulnerable groups including orphans, the elderly and people affected by HIV/AIDS.

Operation knit

Once again this year, MaAfrika Tikkun identified areas in need of assistance, and Med-Lemon provided wool and knitting needles at participating community centres. While Med-Lemon paid knitters R40 per scarf, MaAfrika Tikkun managed the knitting operation on a day-to-day basis.

In the past two months, 210 knitters in Gauteng's Orange Farm, Diepsloot and Alexandra communities have knitted a total of 3,733 scarves for local children. While the children of Diepsloot received their new scarves at yesterday's ceremony, MaAfrika Tikkun will distribute the rest in the other participating Gauteng communities, with a portion going to victims of xenophobia in Alexandra. On 10 July, there will be a handover to children in the Western Cape, where 173 knitters in Delft and Mfuleni have produced 2,000 scarves.

Inspiring the community

Craig Doré - Marketing Director of Consumer Healthcare GSK and Amanda Blankfield - Marketing Manager of MaAfrika Tikkun and the children of the Diepsloot community.

Bessy Netsianda, MaAfrika Tikkun Project Manager in Diepsloot, has been inspired by the project's impact on the livelihoods of community knitters. "It was a joy to see so many community members motivated and excited to get as many scarves as possible knitted so they could afford the basic necessities that many people take for granted,” she said.

The knitters themselves have also expressed enthusiasm for the scheme. “I was extremely grateful to participate in the knitting project,” said Angela Phiri, a knitter in Diepsloot. “With the money I got I was able to buy tracksuits for my four children, and I am looking forward to knitting more scarves next year to support my family. Thank you...”

Craig Doré, Marketing Director for Consumer Healthcare at GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), thanked members of the public who had donated additional money, wool and knitting needles to the scheme. “We are very happy with the results of this year's project and we are proud to be able to assist these needy communities and individuals, helping to gladden their hearts and keep them warm during the cold winter months,” he said.