DOLLS SENT FROM THREE COUNTRIES

This month, dolls were sent from three countries. Agnes Johnson, New York, USA, is working with many supporters to send 500 dolls to Durban. An email this morning from Tenille Moodley of Training and Resources for Early Education (TREE) told of the long awaited arrival of dolls from the Rosslyn Hill Unitarian Chapel in London, UK. Then, last Tuesday, 30 boxes with 2515 small inhabitants moved from Gooseberry Hill, Western Australia to the port of Fremantle to await their sea journey to Durban,probably via Singapore. Congratulations everyone.

Packing Days here are full of energy. Funny details like no one is allowed to talk to the person counting the dolls into the boxes, or the dolls are always packed face up so they can breathe better. Someone takes on "knicker Inspection" and by working with someone on the machine manages to get all the dolls dressed "properly" with plain or lacy knickers.

PRACTICAL NOTE;

If the short ends of a waist length rectangle of stretch fabric are sewn together, it only takes a few stitches at the crutch, turn inside out and no elastic is needed. Add lace at the start if wished.

The dolls are checked for strength and put on the"hospital" table if needing suturing or feeding up a bit. Eleonora Di Pieri-Tentori has knitted literally hundreds of shoulder bags, back packs, beanies and scarves to add to any doll needing a bit more play material.

DOLLS POURING IN FROM VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA

This month, with Perth, WA as the collection point, over 500 dolls have arrived from Victoria. Suzana Djilas-Gaal, Sunbury, sent 7 boxes of wonderfully varied dolls. We say a huge thank you to Suzana who can no longer be one of the collection points in Victoria. Would everyone please delete Suzana's details from the Contact Us page which you may have. Suzana's cheerfulness and love of children's creativity has made her a real pleasure to communicate with. Then Julie Stone and husband, Peter, carried a huge case and bagloads of dolls from Margaret Gaal's very active group in Woodend, (more than a 100 dolls); from Naomi Nicholson's Sorrento Group; from Kylie and team at Patchwork of Essendon and other individual dollmakers. How do we create such variety?

Naomi included knitted monkeys and elephant hand puppets - fabulously designed to delight individual children or for use in story telling or counselling. These patterns will soon be available from Joy. jwhitfi@iinet.net.au

WESTERN AUSTRALIAN NEWS

Dolls have walked in the door from the Quilters Goup of the Kalamunda Hospital Auziliary, the West Coast Community Learning Centre, Alison and Clare's Leederville Group, Ricky Congdon's Tuesday friends, South Perth and Como groups and a continuous stream from the Friday Open Day in Gooseberry Hill. Groups also in action are the Kalamunda Church of Christ and a new one through the work of Sue Gebbie in Mt Claremont. Apologies for all the groups not mentioned here. Everyone's dolls are vital to the KZN children.

ROB SMETHERHAM BEREAVEMENT SERVICES FOR CHILDREN

G, KWA ZULU-NATAL

This message from Rachel Rozenthals-Thresher is sent again for Western Australians and for the first time to everyone else. Rachel was the CEO who arranged our visiting March this year for the workshops for teaching dollmaking to the Zulu women. She writes; "At our meeting with TREE in April I was so struck by the thoughtful care that goes into helping make the dolls appropriate for children particularly in terms of weight, touch, softness, style of design and clothing. Your attention to detail from the child's perspective is so beautiful and so necessary. I know it brings each child a uniquely precious experience. Please keep doing what youa re oding. I am also touched by how much what is given as much a gift to the dollmaker as to the child receiving the doll. that to me is as good a definition of love as one can get".

Rachels' own children love the dolls she made for them, and soon we will hear from the Zulu women themselves following their Review Meetings in June.

From the little window into Rachel's loving and observant nature, we can see that the partnership bewteen her organisation, the Rob Smetherham Bereavement Services for Children (ROBS) and with TREE will result in work of great integrity. This is now the main point of this newsletter.

The overarching vision for Uthando Porject is now becoming manifest. This is to see deeper awareness of the child's emotional needs becoming a priority as for food, shelter, security and education. The uthando Project, acting as a catalyst brings together ROBS and TREE to work together to bring this priority strongly into TREE's training curriculum for the hundreds of women they train and for their field staff. The overall concept is accepted and a programme proposal is being budgeted, with the first implementation being this December.

Brining together two NGOs, their staff and students requires funding for planning, travel, accommodation, staffing, implementation and review.

Across the world, the Uthando Project's focus is on making dolls and ensuring that they reach the children. In Western Australia, we step into a fundraising role as well, although we are definitely open to funding and associated events being successful EVERYWHERE. The idea of the Doll Auction may inspire others to create events of their own choice.

DOLL AUCTION SEPTEMBER SUNDAY 23RD 2 - 4.30PM

(First of all a funny thing has happened. This is the first time I've worked with this template directly through our own website and I don't seem to be able to make any corrections once I have added the item to the text. Alas is me. I have noticed quite a few spelling mistakes and I had wanted to insert a photo or two to spice things up. And...I can't do it. So please forgive all errors).

To raise considerable funds to activate the partnership between ROBS and TREE in KZN we will hold an Auction of Dolls (as Art Pieces, Play or Display Dolls) on September 23rd. Venue is the University of Western Australia's Undercroft , in Crawley; time - 2 - 4.30pm. Our target is to raise $15,000. Funds will be gained in 5 ways, and I urge you to consider "Would I like to participate in this?"

1.OPEN AUCTION OF WORKS BY ARTISTS; The suggested theme is "Family" as this is very relevant to the Zulu children. These children may consider their family to be a swiftly changing structure because  of the inroads of HIV/AIDS. For the auction the items may be of any media or technique; reasonable size in 3D form; may be an art piece or a doll for a child to play with.The theme is not mandatory. Single pieces happily accepted.

2.SILENT AUCTION; All dollmakers and artists may contribute to the Silent Auction choosing whether to work with the theme of "Family" or not.

FOR BOTH TYPES OF AUCTION WE NEED TO HAVE A RESERVE PRICE SUGGESTED BY THE MAKER.

3.SALE OF UTHANDO TYPE DOLLS @$20 each.These African style dolls are made with the intent of being sold for Australian or other children. They can be the same as we send to KZN. We need 200 as they proved very popular last year.It can be of huge benefit to Australian children to include an African style doll in their lives.

4.SPONSORSHIP OF DOLLS TO GO TO THE CHILDREN OF KWAZULU-NATAL. We can make an exhibition of dolls which have come from all over Australia. On the day, people may pay $10 sponsorship,write and attach a little note before the dolls continue on their way to KZN.

5. SALES TABLE OF THINGS AFRICAN. You may have items from Africa to donate for sale. Please let Irene Gill know if you have. irenejgill@hotmail.com

In addition to all these wonders, a group of schools will set up exhibitions of the dolls made by their students.

Simon Mcgrath, who produced a phenomenal result last year, has generously agreed to be our auctioneer for this year. Fabulous.

So, the invitation is strongly extended to all dollmakers to participate in a way that suits you. Above all, please invite potential bidder/buyers of the art works and dolls. 500 - 750 attendees would be ideal. Perhaps forward this newsletter to them. Thank you, everyone.

NEW COLLECTION POINT FOR VICTORIA

We welcome Julie Timewell, 8 Paschal St, Bentleigh, Vic, 3204 phone 03 9557 4149   julie_gaye@hotmail.com

Thankyou Julie, we know it is both entertaining and time consuming to give of yourself in this way.

CALLING A HALT TO BABIES JUMPERS FOR MALAWI

The success of this separate project (230,000 jumpers sent in) has meant it is time to stop. Please inform any groups who have been involved. These wonderful knitters can be invited to knit dolls instead for Uthando Project, with their blessing.

PRACTICAL DOLLMAKING DETAILS

The "Fix It" team in Gooseberry Hill has now handled over 10,000 dolls, so, hopefully have learned a few things. although I must say, that every time I tackle the face it is as if for the first time. How fascinating are the expressions of the human race's face!

Everyone would be delighted to see the quality of the dolls sent through Uthando Project. Each doll speaks for itself. The creativity expressed is remarkable. We love them, so we know the children will. Often it must be hard to part with your doll. Here are a few tips.

Avoid bought googly eyes. They take away from all the hand work done. Far better to embroider or applique. We are experimenting with iron on fabric, painted first, then ironed and edge stitched by hand for eyes and mouth.

Make the doll nicely firm, not rock hard and not so soft that there's nothing to cuddle. Thin dolls or wobbly heads have to be re stuffed.

Invent a baby doll to go with your doll. This adds enormously to the play potential. One Lesmurdie woman, from the Church of Christ sewing group made a baby doll in French knitting. Flexible and strong.

Make a simple rectangle of soft fabric large enough for a wrap or sheet for the doll.

The "One Piece" knitted doll pattern, with separate legs, is preferable to the Sunbeam with the joined legs, but we are happy to send both.

Avoid "Gollywogs" and Teddy bears as they don't belong to the Zulu culture. No second hand dolls or bought animals. Definitely no "white" dolls.

The doll's shoulder bag idea, filled with another item of clothing is working excellently.

Because I wan't technically able to insert the photos into this newsletter, please visit our website, www.uthandoproject.org and go to the Gallery to witness the wonderful dolls made for the Zulu children.

Welcome to new subscribers to our email. You are joining a global group of people willing to lighten the lives of the children of KwaZulu- Natal.

With admiration and thanks for this joy,

from Georgia Efford and the Team

P.S. DELIVERY OF AUCTION DOLLS

Please post or deliver any dolls for auction to Georgia Efford, 2 Healey Place, Gooseberry Hill WA 6076 to arrive by Friday September 14, so we can design the catalogue.