Dolls make a difference

Local group battles epidemic by selling dolls made by African grandmothers

Marlo Campbell           Uptown Magazine           May 24, 2007 p.7

I couldn’t write about the Stephen Lewis Foundation and the Grandmothers to Grandmothers campaign without mentioning Ilan Schwartz, a U of M student I met back in December 2006.

Obviously he’s not a grandmother, but as the founder of local group Simunye, Schwartz has proven that one person can make a huge difference in the global fight against AIDS.

Simunye (which means “we are united” in Zulu) has raised tens of thousands of dollars for the Hillcrest AIDS Centre in South Africa through the sale of “little travellers” – tiny beaded dolls that are handmade by women living in the Hillcrest area and then shipped to Simunye for sale in Canada.

Many of these women are “gogos” (an affectionate Zulu nickname for grandmothers) and, through the Little Travellers income-generation project, they’re now able to care for their families, including grandchildren, who have been orphaned by AIDS.

Gogos, of course, are also the main beneficiaries of the Grandmothers to Grandmothers campaign, a movement that has been embraced and championed by the Stephen Lewis Foundation, a non-profit organization working with community groups in Africa.

Spreaking of individuals making a difference, Lewis, the former United Nations Special Envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa, is himself a passionate advocate of the grandmothers’ cause and was the inspiration behind the formation of at least two local Winnipeg Granny groups.

And now an update: since Uptown first reported on Schwartz and Simunye, Lewis visited Winnipeg for a speaking engagement and found out about the little travellres.

In April, Schwartz received a letter from Stephen Lewis himself. It reads, in part:

“The Little Travellers HIV/AIDS project is totally inspired. I endorse it every stitch of the way. It raises consciousness in Canada and hope in Africa… The sales are made in Canada, and money flows to the heroic women and children and families battling the pandemic on the ground. What could be a better act of human solidarity?”

Schwartz was thrilled but far too modest to take any credit or admit that he’s done anything special (that’s part of his charm).

But he has. So, congrats, Ilan!

For more information, browse on over to www.littletravellers.net.

Little Traveller fashionistas on catwalk in Cape Town

‘Little Travellers’ head for Cape Town

Daily News Feb 22, p. 16

The Hillcrest Aids Centre has again collaborated with Kloof designer Karen Mok-Klijnstra and a range of garments will be featured this weekend at Cape Town’s Design Indaba.

Monk-Klijnstra’s range, accessorised by the centre, was enthusiasticaly received at Indaba 2006 and this year she will be highlighting the work of the beaders and crafters at the centre, as well as the Little Traveller dolls.

“The models will, in effect, be living, talking ‘Travellers’,” she says.

“The range embraces the joy and passion of the Travellers and their creators, their spunk and chutzpah.”

It’s a street-inspired collection of garments that could hold its own on any street in the world.

Monk-Klijnstra has harnessed the talents of artist Steve Mandy to take the “Travellers” to fashionista heights and create a stunning range that will be shown at an installation each day over three days, complemented by an audio visual presentation of the beaders and their work.

It’s a creative, vibrant trio and it’s sure to make waves at the Design Indaba.

All dolled up

South Africa’s Daily News, Feb. 22nd, p. 17

Doll brooches made by people at the Hillcrst Aids Centre are being sold all over the world to raise funds. Now a leading designer will put them on the fashion stage at the Cape Town Design Indaba this weekend. Lindsay Ord spoke to Karen Monk-Klijnstra about the unusual collaboration.

‘Little Travellers’ – small beaded dolls that are made at the Hillcrest Aids Centre – are travelling far and wide and raising thousands of rands to improve the lives of the women and their families who make them.

The brainchild of Paula Thomson, they came into being four years ago when she and the crafters at the centre sat down and made the first prototypes.

“We were so excited about them and started selling them immediately,” says Paula.

Fleamarkets, conferences and schools snapped them up and they became sought after accessories in Hillcrst. Soon, the women had orders for “Travellers” pouring in from around the country and around the world – providing much needed bread and butter money for the crafters.

Since then, thousands have been sold and they are now available in Canada, America, Australia, Britain, and Holland.

“The Little Travellers have captured the hearts of all who have come into contact with them because through their sale, families have been fed, lights have been turned on, clothes have been bought and, most of all, hope has been restored,” says Thomson.

The Hillcrest Aids Centre has more than 100 beaders who are either affected by or infected with Aids and each doll is unique and made in the image of its maker.

“They are called Little Travellers because if you wear one, it rarely stays with you for long. People admire them and usually the wearers give them away,” explains Thomson. “These small brooches travel the length and breadth of South Africa.”

Little Travellers are a hit in Canada, thanks to the zeal of Canadian medical student Ilan Schwartz who worked as a volunteer at the centre for six months. When he returned to Canada, he marketed the dolls and has sold thousands under the Simunye banner, raising more than R350 000. Money from the sales goes to the crafters and a percentage goes to the Hillcrest Aids Centre’s Respite Unit.

“The Travellers continue to morph and change into angels with wings or dreadlocked ravers, to girls with skirts and ABBA maniacs who reflect the current fashion or diversity of life.”

Dolls can be bought from the centre for R15 to R20. Inquiries: 031 765 5344 or 031 765 5866.