My friend Kristen (owner of the awesome plush/vinyl toy store Schmancy in Seattle) has started a multicraftual effort to support a new children’s museum that’s being planned for Johannesburg, South Africa. Read on to find out how you can help!
Here is Kristen’s call to knitters, crocheters, and sewers:
My friend Gretchen is currently in the works to build the very first children’s museum in Johannesburg, South Africa. It is not only the first children’s museum in S. Africa but the first in Africa. The museum is to open on June 16th, 2016, 40 years after numerous children were brutally killed after protesting against the Afrikaans Medium Decree of 1974. It’s an absolutely amazing project and I am so proud of her. Not long ago she was filmed in my apartment for a documentary about this undertaking. So much of her conversation was so inspiring, while also heartbreaking and sad. She described one woman having a hard time balancing life as a single mother saying she “just wanted more time for love”.
Seeing as South Africa prides itself on being a Rainbow Nation, an idea came to me while she was talking. I thought how amazing would it be if I could get people from around the globe to mail her hearts. 3″- 4″ hearts, in all the colors of the rainbow, that could be hung from the ceiling of the museum in garlands. After the installation they could be sold in the gift store to help raise money for the museum OR be given to the children that visit.
If you’d like to knit up some hearts for this cause, my free pattern for hearts would be great for this—just use a bulky yarn to get the larger size that is requested.
Visit Kristen’s original blog post for the details on sending your hearts, plus additional patterns for crocheted and sewn hearts.
Play is a really important concept to me, so I love this opportunity to contribute and help make Play Africa a success!
Count me in!!!!
Awesome, Amanda!
There’s also been a nice response on Facebook—yay!