On November 27 Athele made a very moving distribution in a nearby neighborhood.  Here is her account and photos from Facebook.  You will see beautiful children, their living conditions and their gratitude for being cared for by others.

Wednesday morning was probably the toughest volunteering work I’ve ever done ... physically and emotionally. Ana and I handed out blankets, beanies and soft toys to the most vulnerable children I’ve encountered in my life. Emotionally especially tough for me as this ‘squatter camp’, Kya Sands Informal Settlement, on one border is less than two kilometers away from me (and only four kilometers from one of the wealthiest suburbs in Johannesburg) and holds about 100 000 people in pitiful conditions, no running water, sewers or electricity. Shacks made of every conceivable bit of scrap. Stinking open sewerage running down the tracks between the dwellings in places. About as tenuous a grip on life as it gets.

SO grateful to Ronda for permission to support the Community Police Forum’s initiative to curb violence against women and children, kicked off with a soccer match between local police and the community.
The actual handing over was chaos as it was a last minute opportunity we grabbed so nothing had been organized, word spread quickly and before we knew where we were a big crowd had gathered in the brutal heat, babies were crying in the crush, toddlers scared by the whole thing, so my pics are not up to the usual standard I aim for. But hopefully they still tell the tale.

SO grateful to the hundreds of ladies around the world who made this possible, most especially the INCREDIBLE ladies of Croatia. About forty of the fifty five blankets came from you angels!!

Last but definitely not least, thank you so much to our new friend and helper Lizzy Mabena, from the Community Police Forum, without whose connection and help none of this would have been possible. You’re an angel Lizzy! And Mapule, a wonderful woman who is a community leader and drew all the children together and managed them with care and strength. And the other two ladies whose names I forget but who labored alongside us all to get through the work as quickly and efficiently as possible. Women are wonderful. That’s my conclusion.

Housing in the informal settlement

Bathrooms for the settlement

The lines form for blankets, beanies, hand-warmers and a soft cuddly toy.

Here is the photo of Athele and the team in charge of organizing this event.

Two officers from the local police, Lizzy (next to Athele) is the angel that took care of Athele and Ana.  At the right is Mapule, a wonderful community leader who helped gather the children together and tried to maintain some semblance of order to the distribution.

And the distribution begins.

Please note that many of these wonderful blankets were made by our Croatian members.  Thank you all.

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  • Thanks Amy for all the additional photos - they really do spur us on!

  • All the blankets had been distributed, but there were still toys to bring some joy to the children.

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    Estelle has to chose which two children get the last 2 remaining toys from this distribution.  A very difficult task to say the least.3784889867?profile=RESIZE_710x

    • Thank you so much for this insight into distributions.   I had to view the pictures in small batches as I kept welling with tears.   These children are beautiful and I feel so humbled to spot some of my own emoji squares amongst the blankets.

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    • Just spied a completed blanket from my last shipment in the 7th picture down.  What a Christmas!

  • Even more photos from Athele for this distribution.3784843595?profile=RESIZE_710x3784843912?profile=RESIZE_710x3784844322?profile=RESIZE_710x3784845466?profile=RESIZE_710x3784845776?profile=RESIZE_710x3784846053?profile=RESIZE_710x3784846255?profile=RESIZE_710x3784846575?profile=RESIZE_710x3784846954?profile=RESIZE_710x3784847208?profile=RESIZE_710x3784847384?profile=RESIZE_710x3784847638?profile=RESIZE_710x

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  • Last set of photos from the December 11 distributions.

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    Athele and Estelle ran out of blankets, but they had a few extra toys to hand out to the children.  Hopefully these children will receive a blanket and the next visit to Kya Sands.

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    • The Izzy dolls in many of these pictures are made by Sandra Joy Jones and her sister Susanne Leverton.  

      Sandra writes:

      Iam thrilled to see a whole bunch of my little dolls given to these delightful children.  I love making them and I'm sure will be loved by those children who received them.

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      • Thank you for these wonderful photos and for your willingness to go into such an impoverished area.  Makes me want to crochet all day...the need is so great.  Beautiful, beautiful children.  God bless everyone at KAS SA and the knitters and crocheters around the world.  You are very inspiring!

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