WESTERN CAPE – A creative community project launched by 10-year-old Grace Klotz-Gleave from 1st Muizenberg Sea Scouts is helping bring warmth and comfort to vulnerable premature babies at Mowbray Maternity Hospital.

Grace, a Grade 4 learner at Kirstenhof Primary School, chose to make premature baby beanies as part of her Leaping Wolf Personal Challenge, a milestone achievement in Cubs.

A preemie (premature baby) is an infant born before 37 weeks of pregnancy are completed.

Community effort

What began as a simple craft project soon grew into a wider community effort involving Scouts, Cubs, parents, and local residents, all contributing handmade beanies for babies in the hospital’s neonatal unit.

Grace says her love for crafts and creativity inspired the idea. “I love doing crafts and creative things, and my mom enjoys crocheting,” she explained.

“Our Interact teacher at school, Mrs Alexander, did a loom beanie project, and that gave me the idea to make premie baby beanies for my challenge.”

Grace has been part of 1st Muizenberg Sea Scouts since she was five years old, having joined as one of the group’s first Meerkats.

Apart from Scouts, she enjoys dancing, acrobatics, crafts, and spending time with friends.

To complete the project, Grace taught herself loom knitting with help from her mother and online videos.

Learning skills

“My mom taught me the basics, and then we also watched YouTube videos together,” she said.

“It’s actually much easier than it looks.”

Once she learnt the skill, Grace began teaching others how to make the tiny beanies.

“Teaching other Cubs, Scouts, children, and even adults was sometimes challenging, but it was also really fun seeing everyone learn and get excited about making beanies too,” she said.

For Grace, hearing about the impact the beanies could have on premature babies was emotional and motivating.

“It was amazing to learn more about the neonatal unit,” she said. “I’m really excited to deliver the beanies soon and can’t wait to find out the final number of babies we have helped keep warm.”

Grace says the project taught her important lessons about teamwork, leadership, and helping others.

“I learnt that there are so many people who are willing to help and do good things for others,” she said. “I loved seeing the project grow, with friends teaching their families and more and more people getting involved.”

Family support

Her mother, Candice Gleave, says the family has always been strongly involved in community service and Scouting.

“My husband was a Scout himself, and during Covid I took on a leadership role as an Assistant Pack Scouter,” she explained. “Scouting has truly become part of our family life.” She says, Scouting has helped Grace develop confidence, resilience, leadership skills, and independence.

Watching the project grow into a community initiative has been especially meaningful for the family.

“We are incredibly proud of Grace for taking on this challenge,” said Candice. “Watching her take ownership of the project and inspire others to get involved has been really special.”

Scouting values

The project also received overwhelming community support, with people donating wool, volunteering their time, and learning how to knit beanies themselves.

Angela Lee-Wright, Scout Group Leader at 1st Muizenberg Sea Scouts, says Grace’s initiative stood out because she first taught herself the skill before sharing it with others.

“She then took that knowledge and used it to teach both children and adults, which shows tremendous initiative and confidence,” she said.

Lee-Wright says the project reflects the true values of Scouting. “Scouting is a lifestyle, not simply an extra-mural activity,” she said. “It teaches young people leadership, teamwork, compassion, and service.”

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