Volunteers create first crochet Christmas tree in Dominican republic

The non profit organization Agujetas Solidarias en Acción and the Galería 360 shopping center collaborated to create a massive crochet Christmas tree in the Dominican Republic.

The structure, titled Más que un árbol, stands 25 feet tall and measures 2.4 meters in diameter. It consists of five sections covered by 1,710 hand-made crochet pieces known as granny squares. Aída Bournigal, the president of Agujetas Solidarias en Acción, said the project was a dream for over ten years.

The group drew inspiration from similar community projects in Italy, Spain, and Brazil. While the project began with 25 regular volunteers, the organization eventually opened the initiative to the public. During one community call at Galería 360, 125 people gathered in a single day to crochet pieces for the tree. The volunteers faced a complex task to assemble the final structure. They had to organize and join the different colored and sized squares like a puzzle to ensure visual harmony.

Bournigal said the project serves as a symbol of solidarity and community integration. She expressed plans to eventually bring the project to schools so children and youth can create their own collective works to promote cooperation and creativity.