Teach knitting and crochet to make blankets for street children
The issue
Why teach knitting and crochet?
There are 57 children living on the street in Mbale, Uganda. They own nothing and scavenge for food by doing small odd jobs, like carrying luggage, or handouts.
The come from a background of abandonment, abuse or having lost their parents. They sleep wherever they can find shelter, without comfort, especially that of a warm blanket.
The challenge
Getting knitted items to Uganda is tricky. Postage is high and duty even higher. But what if the local women who are keen to help were taught to knit squares to make blankets for the children?
Let Joyce and Robinah tell you why
Watch the video, and hear Joyce Kidulu who works for Wise Choices for Life in Mbale tell you about the street children. Robinah Obongo is the owner of Abongo Creative Crafts will explain how excited they are about working with local women. and you. to upskill their craft.
A different way to give
If you get involved in this project, everyone wins.
The women get to upskill and teach each other, becoming expert crafters themselves, and as a coop build a social enterprise and potential income stream.
You, the crafting teacher get to meet these women online. You’ll have a window into their world and the children they are trying to help.
Most importantly, the women learn through making squares and the children are made a blanket, something to own and treasure, that will keep them warm at night.
How to do this
Small Act
Volunteer to teach knitting or crochet to one local woman in Mbale, Uganda online, so they learn how to craft squares and sew them together as a blanket.
Cost: Just your time
The next challenge is to get the yarn to the women. CreateCare Global has supplied the knitting needles.
Would you consider going online to Jumia, an online shopping portal that operates in Uganda?
Cost: AUD25.59 (USD18.50) for 10 balls of wool delivered
What next?
- Commit to act.
- Wait for your emailed instructions
- Head on to Jumia, create an account, purchase and send the yarn.
- Make contact with Sandy McDonald, CEO and Founder of CreateCare global.
- Select a square pattern (one you love or have designed.
- Send it to Robinah Obongo (details in email you will receive)
- Join our community
- Share the story of your work and experience with us.
