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20 April 2009
Posted in
Spring Celebrations: Mothers & Mother Earth
Shwe Shwe Poppis Project
Out of a little daycare in Soweto, South Africa, a story emerges with enough heart to touch people across the globe. In a time when only the bleakest of African stories seems to bombard the media, comes a story of creativity, hope and empowerment. And it all started with 8 imaginative little kids’ drawings.
When the legendary vicar, Trevor Huddleston, founded the African Children’s Feeding Scheme (distributes food to 21 000 children at 13 different centre’s in Soweto daily) in 1945, he would have had no idea what an amazing project this initiative would spawn. In a desperate attempt to generate income for the ACFS and become less dependant on food parcels, they developed the Shwe Shwe Poppi’s Project. The project was based upon a few enchanting and heartfelt crayon drawings produced by kids from the Zola Malnutrition and Rehabilitation crèche, run by the AFCS.
From these children’s drawings a range of 8 different fantasy characters has been created, and are sewn by hand. Many of the kids have lost their parents to HIV/Aids and so their grandmothers look after them and it is these same grandmothers that began sewing the dolls.
Using shwe-shwe style fabrics, in keeping with the ethos of celebrating local culture, these 8 characters are easily recognizable. They have their own personalities, and bear the names of their original young creators – Hope, Faith, Buyisile, Nozipho, Philisiwe, Khutha, Siyanda and Thobi. Each poppi (doll) comes in a small bag with information about the child who created it. Bright, playful and with a design untainted by an adult perspective, the poppis bring a unique charm. Hope has four arms, while Khuta is a tall stringbean and Thobi has no legs, yet together they form a colourful, happy family with a distinctive African flair and flavour.
The Shwe Shwe Poppi’s can be viewed and purchased at www.bundudesigns.com
About Bundu
Founded by South African born, Colleen Thompson, the idea behind Bundu is a simple one – to make a real difference in the lives of people living in Africa. Based in Halifax, Bundu passionately believes in treasured pieces that are made with consideration and care. Bundu is a self funded, fairly traded, range of contemporary, “new” African design. As part of the business ethos, Bundu seeks to support economically disadvantaged and marginalized Southern African communities through trade not aid. The communities Bundu supports range from large scale, mostly women’s groups to micro-enterprises empowering people on a grassroots level. Most pour much of their profits back into caring and doing work amongst some of the most marginalized of the poor. Often they have started with nothing. In this, they embody the heart of fair trade principles that give a hand up, not a hand out. One common hand spun thread that runs through all our partners is that they share a desire to see the poor given a ray of hope.
When choosing who we will partner with, we look first of all to their concern for the poor. Who do they employ? How do they employ? Are their wages fair? Do the profits go back into community upliftment? If all of the answers value people before profits, we begin a relationship.
For more information please visit us at www.bundudesigns.com
Bundu Showcase @ Local Jo’s (May 22nd @ 7:30)
Join Bundu at Local Jo’s on May 22 at 7pm to view the Shwe Shwe Poppi’s along with other beautiful items from our upliftment programmes.
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