Annually, 4,000 premature babies are born in Norway. That means babies younger than 37 weeks old. Many of these are extremely preterm, meaning babies born before the 28th week of pregnancy and/or weighing less than 1000 grams (2.2 pounds). The Amanda Project aims to help these.

The project is named after Amanda, a little girl who lived most of her entire life at Rikshospitalet University Hospital in Oslo. She was only given ten days in June 2010. The project is about helping the little ones who are having a tough start in life through knitting blankets, headgears, socks and mittens.

The Amanda Project provides knitted garments for sick and premature babies in Norwegian hospitals. In addition, there are sister projects in the United States, Australia, Brazil, England and Spain. The contribution has been beyond believes.

It is Amanda’s parents who initiated the project, something neonatal intensive care units in Norwegian hospitals are very happy about. The little babies need a little extra help. The small knitted garments let them use all their power to grow and become healthy, and avoid spending precious energy to keep warm.

Parents of sick and preterm babies are invited to take the garments home when they leave the hospital – an offer almost everyone accepts. Constant refills are a necessity.

Amanda’s parents know that the project means a lot to people who have lost a child.

How can you help?

Home knitted woolen clothes (doll sizes and newborn baby sizes) and blankets (the size of an A3 sized paper) is in constant need. It is important that the garments are washable, made from 100 % wool and lint free.

Please contact the Amanda Project to get information about where to send your contribution.

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Text by: Anette Broteng Christiansen, ThorNews

Source and photos: Amandaprosjektet

Categories: Culture, Knitting