The group Women Helping Ōtepoti began its new project "Knitting for Cool Kids Dunedin" this week by visiting Karitāne School with a special delivery of woolly goods knitted by members.
Each pupil in the teina classroom (new entrants to year 3) received their own unique knitted hat, scarf, mittens and slippers.
Group chairwoman Monica Zaini said that the original "Knitting for Cool Kids" group was set up in Wellington to give children something of their very own after being inspired by the Bryan Bruce documentary New Zealand: Inside Child Poverty.
She said Women Helping Ōtepoti was keen to pioneer the project in the South Island and realised that Karitāne School was a perfect "test run" because of a small junior class size.
Project co-ordinator Shelley Gorman’s daughter had recently graduated from the school, and Mrs Gorman, who was on the board of trustees, knew the teachers and pupils would welcome the endeavour, she said.
The group was looking forward to knitting for more schools and it would welcome knitters to join the venture, Ms Zaini said.
They would also appreciate yarn donations.
Other schools that could benefit from the project could be nominated through the group’s Facebook page.