Corporate Responsibility » Community involvement » Pretty Things for Little Things

More than 14 500 unique hand-made articles were entered for the Pretty Things for Little Things project presented by Age-in-Action and sponsored by Shoprite and Checkers.

The project annually invites all Shoprite and Checkers customers, especially senior citizens, to use their creative talents to make something for a needy child. The unique, handmade items created by all contestants will be distributed as early Christmas presents and bring joy to thousands of disadvantaged South African children during the coming festive season.

Entrants were invited to make anything practical, durable and safe that a child can wear or play with. Articles could be made of any resources available were entered into four categories namely soft toys, blankets, clothing, and other articles made from materials such as wood, tin, wire and so on.

The project is open to all ages, but senior citizens over 60 who enter their handiwork stood a chance of winning generous cash vouchers that can be used at Shoprite, Checkers or Checkers Hyper stores nationwide.

Photo right: Some of the beautiful items created for the 2011 Pretty Things for Little Things project.

Three provincial winners per category were selected in each province. The provincial winners received gift vouchers to the value of R2500, R2000 and R1500 for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place in that order and also went through to the final judging round in which three national winners per category were chosen.

Click here to see the list of Provincial Winners for 2011 (.pdf)

National judging took place in September and the following national winners were announced for each category:

Soft Toys
1st: Lydia van Rooyen, Port Shepston, KwaZulu-Natal
2nd: Barbara Chipps, White River, Mpumalanga
3rd: Wilna Bosman, Parow, Western Cape

Blankets
1st: Marie Wessels, Betlehem, Free State
2nd: Silla Strydom, Springs, Gauteng
3rd: Somerkoelte Klub, Lamberts Bay, Western Cape

Clothing
1st: Marlene Lang, Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape
2nd: Anna Oppel, Grassy Park, Western Cape
3rd: Emily Nkuna, Itsoseng, North West

Other
1st: Pieter Koegelenberg, Bellville, Western Cape
2nd: Julie Scarr, Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape
3rd: George Ryan, Port Shepstone, KwaZulu-Natal

National winners will receive vouchers to the value of R6000, R4000 and R3000 for the top three positions respectively.

A merit prize will also be awarded for the most entries received from an individual in each province, as well as a R1000 prize for the person who entered the most items nationally. Mrs Cynthia Veldman from Brooklyn in the Western Cape was the winner of the national merit prize for the staggering amount of 435 dolls entered by her this year.

Winners will be treated to a special social event in conjunction with Age-in-Action in November, and the names of the national winners will be featured in the December issue of Ideas magazine. 

30 September 2011

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