Global Mission Statement Who Are We!...World’s Largest Crochet Blanket No.2 On July 9th 2016, during Mandela Month, 67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela Day entered the Guinness Book of

67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela Day pledges to keep thousands less fortunate warmer,

in the name of our beloved Nelson Mandela.

Stitch by stitch, his legacy lives on in eachblanket lovingly created by our volunteer

'KnitWits' for Madiba with their own two hands.

"Making every day a Mandela Day"Founder

Carolyn Steyn

“It is in your hands now, I thank you”

- Nelson Mandela -

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Global Mission Statement

In December 2013, Zelda la Grange, late former President NelsonMandela's trusted assistant, presented philanthropist and 'Arts Angel',Carolyn Steyn, with a challenge: knit, sew or crochet 67 blankets! Theseblankets 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 wasofficially declared by the United Nations in 2009. Carolyn gladly acceptedZelda's challenge but soon she called on her friends for help anddeveloped a Facebook group called 67 Blankets for Nelson MandelaDay. In just days, hundreds of people from around the world had pledgedto knit a blanket for Nelson Mandela Day.

Since then, 67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela Day has transformed intowhat some are calling a "movement." This movement has captured theattention of many South African and international celebrities as well ascorporates. ‘KnitWits for Madiba’ in Australia, Belgium, Canada, Germany,Cyprus, London, the US and India are groups of loyal supporters who havejoined their South African fellow knitters and crocheters.

In its short history, the campaign has realised some importantmilestones. After just nine months, 67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela Daywon CAMPAIGN OF THE YEAR at the South African of the Year Awards inOctober 2014.

Who Are We!

67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela Day NPO

1st Floor | 54 Glenhove Road | Melrose Estate | Johannesburg | 2196

PO Box 87353 | Houghton | Johannesburg | 2131

Telephone: 076 480 3750

[email protected]

www.67blankets.co.za

Facebook Group: 67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela Day (South Africa)

Instagram: @67blankets

Twitter: @67blankets

NPO Number: 151/362

On April 21st 2015, to mark 21 years of democracy in South Africa, 67Blankets for Nelson Mandela Day smashed the Guinness WorldRecord for the ‘The Largest Crochet Blanket in the World’ measuring3,377 square meters at the Union Buildings in Pretoria.

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World’s Largest Crochet Blanket No.1

On August 7th 2015, Carolyn Steyn signed a Memorandum Of

Understanding with National Commissioner, Zach Modise,

formalising a partnership between 67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela

Day and the Department of Correctional Services, whereby every

prison in South Africa would have the initiative introduced as part of

their curriculum. The partnership was born from the shared belief

that every person, deserved a second chance and if nurtured, could

‘change for the better’. The initiative is now being used as a means

of rehabilitation and skills development. It also enables those

incarcerated to integrate within the broader society, knitting and

crocheting in the name of the greatest prisoner of them all – Nelson

Mandela. “Knitting broken lives together” is the rallying call –

weaving the fabric of our nation together with bright, colourful

thread.

Memorandum of Understanding

On April 22nd 2016, 67 Blankets regained its place in the Guinness Book of

World Records, beating India in the ‘Wool Cup’. At Drakenstein Correctional

Centre in the Western Cape, over 10 000 blankets measuring a total of 17 188

square meters were displayed. These were made by thousands of ‘KnitWits

for Madiba’, including prisoners in approximately 60 Correctional Centres

around South Africa. The Minister of Correctional Centres, Michael Masutha,

acknowledged Carolyn Steyn and 67 Blankets in his Budget Vote Speech in

Parliament on May 3rd, 2016. The theme of his keynote address was “Knitting

Broken Lives and our Nation Together,” the rallying call of? 67 Blankets.

In 2015, over 7 000 blankets were distributed across South Africa, to

communities in need. Approximately 15 000 blankets were distributed to

more impoverished communities Nationwide in 2016.

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World’s Largest Crochet Blanket No.2

On July 9th 2016, during Mandela Month, 67 Blankets for Nelson

Mandela Day entered the Guinness Book of World Records for the third

time. On this occasion, the record was broken in Nelson Mandela

Square, at Sandton City (in front of the giant statue of Nelson Mandela),

with a blanket measuring 1378.28 square meters. This attempt was for

the world’s largest hand-knitted blanket (non-crochet). We rallied our

nation: women, children, men and even prisoners to once again, “Knit

Broken Lives and our Nation Together”.

The World’s Largest Hand-knitted Blanket (non-crochet)

On April 24th, 2018, 67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela Day presented to

the world #MMM (Massive Mandela Masterpiece). This was done for

Nelson Mandela’s centenary year. What better way was there for us to

pay tribute to the late, great father of our nation. The portrait covered

an area measuring over 8000 square meters – it was so big you could

see Madiba's face from the sky and from outer space!

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Massive Mandela Masterpiece

On July 29th, 2018, 67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela Day entered the

Guinness Book of World Records for the fourth time. This time for the

Longest Crocheted Scarf in the World, beating Australia in the ‘Wool

Cup’. The event took place at the Nelson Mandela Capture Site in

Howick, Kwazulu Natal where a scarf made by thousands of KnitWits

measured an incredible 29.176 kilometres!

The World’s Hand-knitted Blanket (non-crochet)

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Mozambique Disaster Relief with Mrs. Machel Generations

67 Blankets has also been woven into the script of ‘Generations’ for

six years in a row, as a matter of “national importance” according to

the producer of the popular soap opera.

1667 Blankets for Nelson Mandela Day NPO

1st Floor | 54 Glenhove Road | Melrose Estate | Johannesburg | 2196

PO Box 87353 | Houghton | Johannesburg | 2131

Telephone: 076 480 3750

[email protected]

www.67blankets.co.za

Facebook Group: 67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela Day (South Africa)

Instagram: @67blankets

Twitter: @67blankets

NPO Number: 151/362

#WeDidIt!!!