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Join our knitting project and help us make blankets for the cold children of Soweto
The knit-a-square.com knitting project is the latest charity work to be taken on by the Soweto Comfort Club (SCC) for the people of Soweto.
SCC was started three years ago as a committee headed by Josephine (in the video) and Florence to uplift parishes in
Soweto.
The parishes have struggled for many years, but serve tens of thousands of severely underprivileged people, many of whom are affected by
HIV AIDS.
Their first charity work was to collect and distribute items of kitchen equipment, furniture, curtains, bedding, clothing, toys, books, and education resources for the people of the Holy Rosary Parish in Phiri, Soweto. They also started a soup kitchen.
Great numbers of the children of Phiri and neighbouring parishes are orphaned, affected by, or infected with HIV AIDS. Florence tells a story of an old blind woman and a twelve year old girl who is an
AIDS orphan.
While not related, they have become attached to each other. The little girl forages for food and takes it to her 'grandmother' Kedibone. Euna and Roda (pictured right) are among several women committed to this knitting project. They will help to organise groups of women who will join the knitted squares, sent by knitters from around the world, into blankets for the children.
There is a great deal of poverty and suffering in many parts of Africa - many elderly people are just as cold, helpless and hungry. This knitting project has as its first goal to supply a blanket for every child in need in the Phiri Parish. From there, we hope to expand to the rest of Soweto, then to nearby squatter camps, and beyond, in South Africa,
Zimbabwe
and the rest of Africa. That goal may seem unachievable, but a small 8" x 8" (20cm x 20cm) square is easy and cheap to knit and send. The women of the Soweto Comfort Club are committed to the project. There have already been enthusiastic responses from knitters in Australia, UK, USA, South Africa and Zimbabwe. The first squares left for Soweto from Australia on October 19 2008 and arrived in early November. With the goodwill of the knitters of the world, soon
Square Circle ezine
will bring you stories of warmth and hope instead of poverty and despair. So please knit one or more squares and send them today.
Click here for the knitting project instructions.

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