​Staff of Stellenbosch University showed they care and willingness to give more than just 67 minutes of their time to the annual Mandela Day. Staff of the JS Gericke Library and the five branch libraries of the University rolled up their sleeves last year and eagerly started knitting and crocheting to complete patchwork blankets in aid of the 67 Blankets for Mandela Day initiative of the Nelson Mandela Foundation.

They completed a total of 1 575 knitted and crocheted blocks. Sewn together, they handed over 25 patchwork blankets to the initiative. These colourful pieces of art have been donated to vulnerable women at the Philisa Abafazi bethu centre for women and children in Lavender Hills.

"We achieved something special," says Henriëtte Swart, Chairperson of the Library Service's Staff Development Committee.

"Everybody was immediately enthusiastic about the project and joined in – knitting, crocheting, donating wool, sewing together completed blocks or even just motivating everybody."

This is not the end of the road for this project, though. Swart says they will tackle similar projects as this was a very good group activity for the staff.

·         The SU community has various other activities planned for Mandela week. Staff and students are invited to participate in any of these projects and make use of the opportunity to contribute to social impact through volunteer work.  The focus at institutional level is to create opportunities around Mandela day which can result in ongoing, sustained volunteer work for students and staff. Click here for more information about the projects.

http://www.sun.ac.za/english/Lists/news/DispForm.aspx?ID=4010

​Caption: Staff at the JS Gericke library and the five branch libraries of Stellenbosch University donated 25 knitted and crocheted blankets to the 67 Blankets initiative of the Nelson Mandela Foundation.  Natasja Malherbe, Sheila Keet en Anneke Schaafsma eagerly participated in the project.​