In her small Athens apartment, 93-year-old Ioanna Matsouka continues to knit thousands of brightly colored scarves for children in need, spanning from Greece to Ukraine. Undeterred by age or physical challenges, Matsouka expresses her joy in sharing her creations and has no plans of stopping.
Having taken up knitting in the 1990s, Matsouka’s daughters estimate that she has crafted over 3,000 scarves. Initially, the scarves were gifted to friends, and as the stock grew, they were donated to children’s shelters across Greece. Through acquaintances, her creations reached children in Bosnia and Ukraine. In her most recent endeavor, Matsouka donated 70 scarves to a refugee camp near Athens, facilitated by the UN refugee agency UNHCR.
Despite facing impaired vision and bouts of severe facial pain, Matsouka continues to knit one scarf a day, each bearing a small imperfection. Her daughter, Angeliki, emphasizes Matsouka’s resilience and optimism, describing her as an example for others. Matsouka’s daily routine involves waking up, drinking a glass of milk, putting on her pearl earrings, and dedicating herself to knitting throughout the day and into the night.
For Matsouka, the secret to a long and fulfilling life lies in the happiness derived from giving, a sentiment she expresses while sitting beside a bag filled with vibrant yarn.
