Hoodies for Orphans
Posted: Thu Aug 07, 2025 8:14 am
Hoodies for Orphans
We often hear the phrase: “Count your blessings.”
Today, I want to share the story of a four-year-old who didn’t need to count—because she already knew she was blessed. Her story led me to deep reflection.
On a bitterly cold winter’s day—June 25, 2025—Emily Strydom arrived at the Princess Alice Adoption Home with a bunch of flowers, a bundle of handmade fleece hoodies, and a warm, infectious smile. Her gift of warmth came from a pure and unexpected place—just in time for the predicted weekend cold front.
Emily is no ordinary child. At just four years old, her heart is already filled with compassion and purpose. Her story is closely linked with Able Stitch, a non-profit organisation based in Roosevelt Park, Johannesburg. Able Stitch is dedicated to uplifting vulnerable and unemployed individuals by equipping them with valuable skills—enabling them to make a positive impact in the lives of children across various communities.
The organisation regularly holds meetings to plan community outreach. During one such meeting, the manager had her children with her—as she often does after hours. She kept them busy by asking them to draw what they heard in the meeting, turning minutes into art.
That day, young Emily was quietly drawing the minutes, until she raised her hand and bravely asked a simple question:
"Why don’t we make clothes for orphans?"
That one question sparked a movement, and a challenge was set: 30 days to dress 1,000 children.
With a simple hoodie pattern, support from private donors, and a generous donation of sewing machines from Brother SA, the vision began to take shape. In just the last two weeks of June, 10 individuals were trained, 241 hoodies were made, and two orphanages received the gift of warmth.
Able Stitch NPC operates entirely on public donations—they receive no government funding. Every rand is used to uplift the homeless, the unemployed, and now, to bring warmth to vulnerable children.
Each donor receives a certificate with the name and personal story of the child who received a hoodie—sharing their hobbies or dreams. It also includes a short profile of the individual who was upskilled through the donation.
Warm 1,000 Kids this winter is a pilot project in Johannesburg, with plans to expand to more provinces over the next five to ten years. Private donors are invited to partner in this mission, using skills development to fight poverty and reduce crime while caring for orphans and vulnerable children.
In the first week of July, another two orphanages will receive warmth in the form of cozy hoodies as another cold front rolls in. Donations can be as little as R10, while R220 covers the cost of one hoodie and earns the donor a personalised certificate.
This mission is close to the heart of Elizabeth Strydom, the manager of Able Stitch NPC. As a child, she raised money for orphans. Since Lizzy was two, they’ve hosted Easter egg hunts together, donating every egg she found to an orphanage in Brixton. Now, orphans are central to Emily’s life too.
And so, we return to that familiar saying: “Count your blessings.”
But what if, like Emily, we didn’t just count them—what if we shared them?
Will we just say thank you and carry on complaining?
Or will we open our hands and hearts, letting our blessings overflow into the lives of others?
This winter, let’s keep warm not just in body, but in spirit. Let’s allow love to overflow to those less fortunate than us.
As the saying goes:
“Blessed are those who give, for they shall receive.”
We often hear the phrase: “Count your blessings.”
Today, I want to share the story of a four-year-old who didn’t need to count—because she already knew she was blessed. Her story led me to deep reflection.
On a bitterly cold winter’s day—June 25, 2025—Emily Strydom arrived at the Princess Alice Adoption Home with a bunch of flowers, a bundle of handmade fleece hoodies, and a warm, infectious smile. Her gift of warmth came from a pure and unexpected place—just in time for the predicted weekend cold front.
Emily is no ordinary child. At just four years old, her heart is already filled with compassion and purpose. Her story is closely linked with Able Stitch, a non-profit organisation based in Roosevelt Park, Johannesburg. Able Stitch is dedicated to uplifting vulnerable and unemployed individuals by equipping them with valuable skills—enabling them to make a positive impact in the lives of children across various communities.
The organisation regularly holds meetings to plan community outreach. During one such meeting, the manager had her children with her—as she often does after hours. She kept them busy by asking them to draw what they heard in the meeting, turning minutes into art.
That day, young Emily was quietly drawing the minutes, until she raised her hand and bravely asked a simple question:
"Why don’t we make clothes for orphans?"
That one question sparked a movement, and a challenge was set: 30 days to dress 1,000 children.
With a simple hoodie pattern, support from private donors, and a generous donation of sewing machines from Brother SA, the vision began to take shape. In just the last two weeks of June, 10 individuals were trained, 241 hoodies were made, and two orphanages received the gift of warmth.
Able Stitch NPC operates entirely on public donations—they receive no government funding. Every rand is used to uplift the homeless, the unemployed, and now, to bring warmth to vulnerable children.
Each donor receives a certificate with the name and personal story of the child who received a hoodie—sharing their hobbies or dreams. It also includes a short profile of the individual who was upskilled through the donation.
Warm 1,000 Kids this winter is a pilot project in Johannesburg, with plans to expand to more provinces over the next five to ten years. Private donors are invited to partner in this mission, using skills development to fight poverty and reduce crime while caring for orphans and vulnerable children.
In the first week of July, another two orphanages will receive warmth in the form of cozy hoodies as another cold front rolls in. Donations can be as little as R10, while R220 covers the cost of one hoodie and earns the donor a personalised certificate.
This mission is close to the heart of Elizabeth Strydom, the manager of Able Stitch NPC. As a child, she raised money for orphans. Since Lizzy was two, they’ve hosted Easter egg hunts together, donating every egg she found to an orphanage in Brixton. Now, orphans are central to Emily’s life too.
And so, we return to that familiar saying: “Count your blessings.”
But what if, like Emily, we didn’t just count them—what if we shared them?
Will we just say thank you and carry on complaining?
Or will we open our hands and hearts, letting our blessings overflow into the lives of others?
This winter, let’s keep warm not just in body, but in spirit. Let’s allow love to overflow to those less fortunate than us.
As the saying goes:
“Blessed are those who give, for they shall receive.”