Durban boy uses a craft of crochet he learnt online to make some money online
A young boy from Durban, Kalon Reddy decided to use his creativity to make some money online...
When we see things like this, it really brings a smile to our faces. When we see the youth bringing their passions to life in such innovative and positive ways.
When it comes to practicing what you are passionate about, many times our generation would advise against it. We come from a generation where parents would advise us to worry about getting a job that is high-paying and brings in the moola.
But there are many parents and children out there that have a special talent or are passionate about something, and feel so strongly about it that they decide to just go for it. 13-year-old Kalon Reddy from Durban is one of those kids. He has had a passion for needle work since he was 8-years-old and his aftercare teachers taught him how to knit.
It was the start of something for Kalon as his mom, Zandile Qono, supported his passion and took him to the craft shop. From there on, the lockdown presented itself, and for many it was a time of feeling locked in, but not for this little man, who used it as his opportunity to build on his passion.
Kalon had watched some videos on TikTok about crocheting, but it was only a mere month ago that he began watching crochet tutorials on YouTube, that started him off on his crochet journey.
He started practicing amigurumi, which is a Japanese art form, to create stuffed animals. The best part of it all is that Kalon says, “I like making things. It’s easy and calming.
Kalon created elephants, bees, a dinosaur, whales and, using a standard method, made a blanket, two cardigans and crop tops for his sister." (Times Live Website) Talk about being creative in a functional and practical way...This young man isn't always easy on himself though, his mother said she wasn't surprised when she saw his creations because she always knew he was talented.
Kalon has always been creative. He started with a cropped top for my daughter, then went on to the stuffed animals. I commissioned the elephant after he made me a whale. I asked him if I could post the whale on my Facebook, but he wouldn’t allow me to because he said that he’s not completely happy with his craftsmanship on the whale. He is also very critical of himself.
Zandile's post on Facebook gathered a wonderful reaction from her friends, who also gave her the idea to start Kalon's Krafts, where Kalon is able to sell his creations online.
He is a little man of many talents, he also learnt how to bake through YouTube. It's so wonderful to see social media being used to upskill youngsters (and oldsters). According to a Tech expert, Arthur Goldstuck, "YouTube has been the unspoken secret of the youth for at least the past decade." (Times Live Website)
A great insight into the positives of social media use amongst children, and that too in a time where things are so uncertain and unpredictable in our country.
Image Courtesy of Twitter