Pretty Things for Little Things

More than 22 444 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. Items could be made of any resources available and 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.

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.

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

Soft Toys
1st: Wilna Bosman, Parow, Western Cape
2nd: Morongwa Kganakga, Ramokgopa, Limpopo
3rd: Vrystaat Versorging in Aksi, Rouxville, Free State

Blankets
1st: Marie Wessels, Betlehem, Free State
2nd: Somerkoelte Ladies, Lambert’s Bay, Western Cape
3rd: Bets Verster, Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape

Clothing
1st: Elbie van Tonder, Springs, Gauteng
2nd: Maria Thwala, Waterval Boven, Mpumalanga
3rd: Matshidiso Letlhaku, Blekkies Taung Station, North West

Other
1st: Mathilda Louw, Boston, Western Cape
2nd: Alex Regenstein, Bela Bela, Limpopo
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.

Click here to see a list of the National winners with their winning items (.pdf)

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 477 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.

Click here to see the list of Provincial Winners for 2012 (.pdf)

15 October 2012