By Clair Hunte

THE weather is changing as the Winter Season is approaching in Soweto, the home of Madiba, Winnie Mandela and Desmond Tutu.

There are 72 children in one small room, and they are beginning to feel cold. The caregivers indicated that they are very much in need of blankets to cover the children and a more comfortable place for them to sleep during the day. At present, the children are sleeping on the thinly covered carpeted concrete floor that is seemingly inadequate.
Given the time, skills and resources, I proceeded to visit various wholesale fabric and sponge stores for the best deals. I purchased fleece material to make twelve (12) “no-sew” blankets, 3 sponges (size of a double-bed) and vinyl to cover the sponge beds. These were delivered on May 31st. The caregivers then asked for 3 more sponge beds and more blankets. The sponges and more material were purchased for the additional beds and thirteen Ellias Motswoaledi Pre-School and Day Care (13) more “no-sew” blankets, totalling twenty-five (25) blankets and six (6) sponge beds, were delivered on Friday, June 14th. Pictures tell the story. Sponges are put into vinyl covers.

The goal was for this project to be a ‘teach and learn’ experience. By involving and teaching the staff at the residence how to make ‘no-sew’ fleece blankets (most do not have a sewing machine) it helps the children as well as the individuals who participated. Having learned the skill, the Staff also made blankets for their relatives. This combined ‘community’ effort was welcomed and most appreciated by everyone.

The process involved matching 2 pieces of fleece, measuring and marking the material, cutting and looping the pieces together. See pictures: It should be mentioned that June 16th1976 holds great significance in the history of South Africa. This day continues to be a day of commemoration and there is much sharing and learning. It is a day when South Africans pay tribute to Hector Pieterson who was shot and killed, and many other school children were wounded after white police officers opened fire on their protest march in Orlando West, Soweto.

At this site, there is the Hector Pieterson Memorial and Museum open to the public. In memory of this event, June 16th is celebrated as “Youth Day” and it is a public holiday. This year, Monday, June 17th 2019, is the official public holiday.

The people of Guyana are a very generous people, having contributed to the dismantling of Apartheid and ending colonialism in Southern Africa. Now that we have our Mission in Pretoria, we are transitioning to assisting disadvantaged communities as part of our Mission in Action. This project in Soweto started in 2018 when school supplies and toiletries were needed. Items were purchased and delivered to the Day Care. The current teaching and learning ‘no-sew’ fleece blanket project is a follow-up that provides the basic needs for these children during the cold months of June and July.