Though Vangile Zikhali celebrated her 70th birthday last week, the grandmother from Meadowlands, Soweto, dedicates much of her time to training women in her neighbourhood to knit.
"I never thought I would take up knitting again after so many years. I had not picked up knitting needles since leaving school," she said.
Zikhali's knitting group is part of Gogo Magic, a project that encourages elderly women to knit as a means of generating an income. The organisation supplies the women with wool and knitting needles.
"We may be old but we can still use our hands. This way we are able to put food on the table for our grandchildren," she said.
Depending on their dexterity, the women can knit up to two beanies or two scarfs a day. The beanies and scarves are then bought by Gogo Magic for R50 each or R100 for a scarf.
Gogo Magic founder Mike Walker said with more than 540 women and 10 men, the project was the largest knitting circle in Africa. Walker started the project with his grandmother, Patricia van der Merwe.
Walker said there was a great demand for the project's beanies and scarves during the 2010 FIFA Soccer World Cup.
The knitting group produced beanies and scarves, including a vuvuzela-shaped variety, and other woollen items in the colours of the flags of countries participating in the World Cup.
Visit www.gogoknit.org for for information.
Source: Sowetan
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