Project nurturing

Over 100 handmade kangaroo wraps and beanies for newborn babies have been donated to mothers who gave birth at the Dr James Sebe Moroka Hospital in Thaba Nchu.

The items were donated on 3 August to mark the centenary of two South African political icons, Nelson Mandela and Albertina Sisulu.

If still alive, both would be 100 years old.

This gesture towards children also coincided with World Breastfeeding Week from 1 tot 7 August and National Women’s Month celebrated during August in South Africa.

This was made possible via a partnership between various stakeholders: the Central University of Technology (CUT), Free State; the University of the Free State (UFS); the Princess Gabo foundation; as well as the Kroonstad Correctional Services.

The wraps and beanies were made by female inmates at Kroonstad Correctional Services.

“The main objective was to forge alliance with the Royal House of Barolong under the theme ‘Let’s Kangaroo Africa’,” said Dan Maritz, CUT spokesperson.

According to Princess Gabo Moroka-Motshabi, founder of the Princess Gabo Foundation, the foundation values the importance of the kangaroo as a preferred method of care in impoverished communities.

“We advocate for this because children are our future. We need to invest and nurture them from birth to equip them with that would ensure they grow healthy and a productive future generation,” she said.

“Let us redress, nurture and invest in our children from birth so that they grow up knowing how to love and care for others.”