In December 2013, Zelda la Grange, late former President Nelson Mandela's trusted assistant, presented philanthropist and 'Arts Angel', Carolyn Steyn, with a challenge: knit, sew or crochet 67 blankets! These blankets would then be distributed to those in need on Mandela Day. Mandela Day is an annual international day in honour of Nelson Mandela, celebrated each year on the 18th July, Mandela's birthday. The day was officially declared by the United Nations in 2009.
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.
Towards the end of February 2016 it was decided that the Telkom Foundation, through its Employee Volunteering initiative, will join the “movement” and knit blankets. More than 450 employees from Telkom offices all over South Africa, committed themselves to knit or crochet blankets.
The following weeks were very interesting, specifically at the Telkom Park in Centurion. Everywhere ladies were sitting around knitting colourful wool into squares during lunch hour. Even walking from one building to the next was not wasted on just walking, some were knitting while doing so.
Employee Stories
On the 6th April 2016, Carolyn Steyn visited the Telkom offices in Centurion. Nathi Kunene from the Telkom Foundation handed over the blankets knitted by the Telkom Volunteers. Ms Steyn was welcomed by the Telkom employees in typical African fashion with song and chanting. Ms Steyn explained the project to the employees and expressed her surprise and gratitude towards the employees for their dedication in finishing their blankets at such a short notice. As a result the Telkom is given the opportunity to knit a giant blanket with the Telkom brand which blanket will be displayed at the official ceremony on the 22nd April 2016 at the Drakenstein prison in Cape Town.
All the blankets received though this initiative will be distributed to deserving organisations to be selected from suggestions received from the Telkom employees.
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