In December 2007 the Absa Wellness Department contacted the SAQG requesting assistance with a quilt project they had in mind. The idea was for Absa employees to make single bed quilts commemorating International AIDS day as well as the 16 days of activism against gender based violence. This team building effort was to be done with help from the South African quilters.
Different guilds in the country were involved in either making or helping to make the quilts and on 24 November 2008 Elsa Brits and Trienie Krugel judged the end results with the help of Jeanette Botha, SAQG President, and Louise Swanepoel, Vaal Triangle Quilters’ Guild chairlady. There were about 100 quilts of which at least 50% had been make by the Absa employees themselves. Most quilts depicted the theme of violence or Aids in either words or pictures, or both. There were some excellent quilts: some with good ideas and some with good ideas as well as excellent workmanship. All the quilts, of which Absa expect to have more than 200 in the end, will be auctioned and the money raised will be given to a charitable organization concerned with child headed families. By the time we left, 16 quilts had already been bought.
The judges were asked by project manager Zanele Sekhane to select a Best on Show quilt as well as a best quilt made entirely by Absa employees and a best quilt made by a professional or seasoned quilter. The prize money attached to the winning quilts will go to the departments concerned which in turn will donate the money to a charity of their choice.
The Deputy Minister of Provincial and Local Government, Ms. Nomatyala Hangana, campaign convener of the National 16 days of activism project, was the guest speaker at the opening ceremony. A quilt, made entirely by Absa employees, of whom there were 6 men in the team, was handed to the Minister.
The SAQG felt that their involvement in this project was successful and that it could possibly be taken to another level in future.
