What did Carolyn Steyn, founder of 67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela Day, do when MC Anele Mdoda handed her the microphone at the Saxon hotel on Thursday 19 February 2015 during the launch of the Cell C Support for 67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela Day 2015?
She curtsied to Jose dos Santos, CEO of Cell C, and thanked him for his commitment and support in helping South Africans with a particular challenge to South African schools to knit and crochet 21 000 blankets by 21 April this year. These blankets will be spread across the lawns of the Union Buildings in Pretoria on 21 April at the feet of the Nelson Mandela statue before being donated to charity organisations around the country.
Well-known South Africans who have already taken up the challenge to support this worthy cause. Image: Yolanda van der Stoep
Not only will this create a world record, but countless children, everyday South Africans, celebrities and knitters will be empowered to keep 21 000 people warm this year in the name of Nelson Mandela – stitch by stitch.
67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela Day started in effect in December 2013 when Zelda la Grange, Nelson Mandela’s trusted assistant, presented philanthropist and “Arts Angel” Carolyn Steyn with a challenge: knit 67 blankets in partnership with the Nelson Mandela Foundation’s Mandela Day brand!
Steyn accepted La Grange’s challenge but soon realised that she wouldn’t be able to achieve it alone. She called on her friends for help and created the 67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela Day Facebook group. More than 6 000 blankets were created last year and the project captured the hearts and hands of people across the globe.
Nelson Mandela CE Sello Hatang, Carolyn Steyn and Cell C CEO José dos Santos at the media briefing. Image: Yolanda van der Stoep
At the launch, Steyn shared the prophetic words of La Grange: “If you take up the challenge of 67 blankets, your life will never be the same again.”
Steyn has donated R210 000 prize money in her personal capacity to the participating school that produces the most single-bed-size blankets (140cm x 180cm), with a minimum amount of at least 670 blankets.
This school challenge ends on 15 April 2015.
South African beauties, Melinda Bam (Miss SA 2011), Suzette van der Merwe (Miss SA 1990), Ziphozakhe Zokufa (current Miss SA) and Claudia Henkel (Miss SA 2004) snuggle up under a few blankets during the announcement. Image: Yolanda van der Stoep
Dos Santos profusely thanked Steyn for this project, which fits Cell C like “a hand in a glove”. He also thanked the media – the “oh glamorous ones” – for making this inspirational project work. He emphasised the importance of social responsibility for Cell C by saying, “We thrive on social responsibility.”
Cell C, through the Cell C Foundation, has donated R441 000 to benefit 21 participating schools that each stand to win R21 000. It has also supplied wool and tools to various communities in Diepsloot to produce 1 000 blankets, as well as yarn and tools to employees at Cell C who have volunteered for this project.
(Knitters who post a selfie of themselves knitting on 67 Blankets’ social pages could win one of three Amber Gold Huawei Mate 7 mobile handsets valued at
R6 000 each. Post your selfie on @67Blankets and @CellC with the tags #Believe, #EPIC and #67Blankets.)
Suzette van der Merwe (Miss SA 1990), Melinda Bam (Miss SA 2011), Cell C’s CEO, José dos Santos, Morning Live’s Leanne Manas, the Nelson Mandela Foundation’s CE, Sello Hatang, television personality, Penny Lebyane and Claudia Henkel (Miss SA 2004). Image: Yolanda van der Stoep
The inspiring and charismatic Nelson Mandela Foundation CE, Sello Hatang, said when Steyn approached him about the seemingly impossible objective of producing 67 000 blankets for Nelson Mandela Day, he came up with a much more achievable number: 21 000 blankets to commemorate the 21 years of South African democracy.
Hatang referred to the importance of blankets in Setswana – an idiom saying, “We are wearing the same blanket.” This expresses unity in thought and effort. Hatang reminded the audience of three concepts that Madiba expressed to his children in 1969. Madiba wrote to them of hope, health and happiness.
So, let’s take up the needles and hooks, and let’s knit the blankets that will keep us together.
For more info:
Facebook: www.67blankets.co.za
Twitter: @67Blankets and @CellC
Instagram: @CellCSA
Contact: 0617 67 67 67
