How a group of women turned their Sunday meetings of knitting and crochet into a useful and primary humanitarian activity to help the children of the South African Republic.
A group of women from Varaždin and Međimurje counties have decided to join the world renown “Knit a Square” (KAS) movement. Launched ten years ago, it aims to help children in South Africa with three essential goals:
1. To warm and comfort children who are vulnerable, are poor or who have been orphaned by HIV/ AIDS.
2. To give them blankets from the knitters and crocheters of the world who care about their plight
3. To raise awareness of this mostly hidden tragedy.
The fundamental problems for orphans in South Africa are a chronic shortage of blankets, especially at high altitudes in the high-veld winters. The problem is familiar to many other impoverished communities in South Africa.
The organization KasCare was founded by Ronda Lowne and Sandy McDonald in October 2008 after a family reunion in Melbourne, Australia in June of the same year. It is in response to the harsh reality of 2.4 million children orphaned, abused or abandoned in southern Africa. They live in abject poverty. They lack love, shelter, food, education and warmth. You can read more about it here: http://www.knit-a-square.com/knitting-project.html
Today, the KasCare charitable organisation receives anywhere from 2,500 to 5,000 knitted squares a week produced by an estimated 12,000 people from worldwide communities in 54 countries. A ‘square’ is a 20cm x 20cm patch of knitwear which can be joined together with other squares to make all types of blankets.
The Croatian group is growing rapidly, and new members from other parts of Croatia (Zagreb, Rijeka, Pula etc.) join every day. In addition to knitting squares, they knit and crochet hats, mittens and all kinds of toys. They are currently preparing a second consignment that already has about 1000 squares, 200 toys and 80 caps.
The Varaždin group meets every Sunday at the “Grofica Marica” cafe, and other city groups meet in libraries, nursing homes, and private venues. It doesn’t matter where; it is essential only that they knit and crochet for a useful and valuable humanitarian goal.
You could see more about it on Facebook site: Knit a Square Croatia.
