WHO WE ARE

From small seeds, beautiful things grow.

Founded in Australia by CEO Mally Ellis, a native Zimbabwean, Knit For Life was born from Mally’s commitment to continue the project established by her late mother Lily who opened her home in Harare to women from the Chatsworth community to train them in the production of hand-knitted products to international standards.

Today, Knit For Life is an empowerment project based on a productive partnership between the knitters of the Chatsworth community and volunteers based in Australia. Our mission is inspired by the belief that when women are lifted from poverty, the whole community benefits. Our team in Australia is committed to collaborating with the knitters to create opportunities for greater economic independence and self-sustainability and to bring about improvements in the quality of life for their community.

From its beginnings as Grasshoppers Jumpers in 2000, a small social enterprise business established by Mally and her sister, Jackie, in 2017 Knit for Life became a charity and not for profit organization registered with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profit Commission (ACNC). In 2018 Knit for Life achieved Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) status, allowing donors of $2 AUD and above to claim tax deductions for monetary donations.

What drives us each day is our dream is to grow and to do so much more. If we grow, we can create many more opportunities for members of the community to knit and support their families through the dignity of paid work. Our vision is a global community united by our love for our children and the planet, and our commitment to making this world a little bit fairer and kinder.

Watch our YouTube presentation of Knit for Life HERE.

MEET THE KNITTERS

Patuma

Patuma is one of our senior knitters. A mother of 9, she has been knitting since 1991. Her knitting income helps pay for her sick husband’s medication and the education of the children in her family.

Martha

Martha began knitting at age 14, taught by her mother. After being widowed with 4 children, her knitting income meant the children of her first marriage could continue to attend school. Remarried with a fifth child now, Martha dreams that her knitting income will allow all her children to complete their education.

Norah

Norah is a mother of 4, and a grandmother who lives 20km outside Chatsworth. She is one of most experienced knitters and travels by foot to collect her yarn and return her finished products. Norah’s dream is to earn enough money to look after her family and ensure all her children and grandchildren receive an education.

Margret

Margret is a mother of three and grandmother. Widowed, she uses her knitting income to pay for her grandchildren’s school fees.

Doleen

Doleen lost her sight at age one after contracting the measles. One of 12 siblings, she was taught to knit by her mother and knits blankets for Knit For Life. Doleen lives with her widowed mother and helps care for her younger siblings, nieces and nephews.

Shupikai

Shupikai is one of our senior knitters. A mother of 5, Shupikai has taken on an active role in community building projects.

Maggie

Maggie, a widow with three children, and a grandmother, specialises in knitting toys. Maggie uses her knitting income to support her children and grandchildren.

Rejoice

Rejoice is a mother of 4 and one of our most experienced knitters. HIV positive, she relies on her knitting income to fund her medication and pay school fees.

Faith

Faith is an expert knitter, known for her ability to knit fast. A mother of 3, Faith began knitting as a 12 year old, taught by her mother. She uses her knitting income to pay for her children's schooling and hopes they will all be able to complete their education and that she will be able to help care for her elderly parents too.

Kudzai

Due to lack of orders, at times some of the mothers struggle to properly clothe their children, as they use all their knitting income to pay fees. This is a photo of Kudzai with her children in their school uniforms, smiling and happy about the shoes their mother recently bought for them, using the money she earned from her knitting.

Jane

Jane is a widow, her husband passed away 20 years ago. She uses the money from Knit for Life to care for her family. She looks after her mother, her 3 grandchildren and her younger sister’s daughter, who is doing Form 3. Jane worked with the late Lily Ellis. She is Knit for Life’s sample maker and has sampled all the toys. .

Idzai

Idzai is 50 years old. She is married and her husband is not working. Idzai is helping to send her children to school. Through her knitting work, Idzai is able to buy food and look after her grandchildren.

Henzy

Meet Henzy, One of the Knit for Life knitters. Henzy is married with four children. Her income from Knit for Life helps her to send her children to school.

Hazel

Hazel is one of Knit for Life's newest knitters, she was struggling to cater for family and could not afford...

Agnes

One of our prolific knitters with her two daughters, Agnes has been knitting since before the birth of her two daughters and has now managed to raise them through money acquired from knitting. Agnes’ husband is unable to find employment.

Kudzai

Kudzai with her children in their school uniforms, smiling and happy for the shoes their mother recently bought for them using her knitting money. Due to lack of orders at times some of the mothers struggle to properly clothe their children as they use all their knitting money to pay fees.

Stella

Stella was born in Zimbabwe in Chirumadzu in the Midlands province into a family of 7; 4 girls and 3 boys (2 brothers lost to Tuberculosis). She looks after her husband, 2 sons, mother aged 74yrs who is now a cancer patient and her 2 sisters one is metal ill, brother and their 7 children.

Virginia

Virginia supports her mother through her knitting income. Virginia received a brand new wheelchair in 2019 which was donated by the BartMeph Foudation in partnership with Knit for Life. She has been knitting for 20 years and receiving a new wheelchair has been life changing for her.