CAROLYN STEYN
Each blanket is handmade and donated to worthy recipients in the name of Nelson Mandela and the humanitarian values he stood for. 67 Blankets says every day can be a Nelson Mandela day. The main organisers of 67 Blankets, Carolyn Steyn and her staff and Kevin Friedman, handed out blankets to each recipient at the Chev.
Kadimah and the Junction are protected employment workshops where people have the dignity of doing work in a protected environment. The Chev NGOs cater for both the Jewish community but also reach out to some township areas.
At the Chev function at the Junction, Miriam Merkel from Golden Acres, was honoured for organising numerous blankets. She has a knitting group at Golden Acres, that meets every afternoon to knit blankets. She was honoured as an “Ambassador for 67 Blankets”.
Steyn explains that people who knit are called “Knit Wits for Madiba”.
Each blanket is handmade with love and given with love to keep people warm. Every blanket is different and personally given from one individual to another, which emphasises human kindness, interaction and the uniqueness and value of each human being.
“67 Blankets” was founded three years ago, by Steyn in response to a challenge from Zelda la Grange (Mandela’s former PA) to knit 67 blankets for Nelson Mandela Day. Steyn set up a Facebook group where people quickly pledged to knit. The organisation has grown in strength. This year 30 000 blankets will be distributed to needy recipients in South Africa.
