The middle school students started knitting the squares last September during their lunch breaks at school. They worked with the non-profit organization Knit-A-Square also known as KasCare, a group that aims to keep abandoned children suffering with HIV and AIDS warm and comfortable.
The 200 squares knitted by the students are ready to mail to South Africa where the women there will make 35 small blankets.
“I am so happy we can help these children, it’s a wonderful project for students,” said project organizer Anne Tufo. “They are learning about the needs around the world and are able to help.”
There are an estimated 14.8 million orphans in sub-Saharan Africa, with 1.9 million living in South Africa. Many of these children are AIDS orphans or have been abandoned. Many live in great poverty in informal settlements.
“It makes me feel happy that I can help keep these children warm,” said Vanessa Leva a seventh grader at Sacred Heart.
In southern Africa, they refer to these children as OVC’s—orphaned or vulnerable children. While other children’s charities work hard to provide food and shelter for them, KasCare aims to provide warmth and comfort.
Sixth grade student Olivia De Klotz said, “I am so happy they have something to look forward to when they go to bed.”
The Knit-A-Square project was started as a family project in 2008 and is now a worldwide community effort numbering an estimated 12,000 people in 54 countries. Together they work hard to help warm and comfort the children and value any contribution to this knitting project for the AIDS orphans of southern Africa. For more information contact www.knitasquare.com.