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This whimsical bedtime story inspires imagination, Each chapter is defined by the changing seasons, the tick of time, unconventional wit and quirky characters: an idea generator that envisions a pile of roadside rubble morph into an inviting boudoir; concrete sculptors that transform the vision into reality; and multitudes of colourful neighbors that succumb to the snooze appeal. A matress not too soft, a duvet rippling in folds and a retro headboard that invites awe make for a spot of fun community gatherings! Jozi's Yarn Bomb Squad arrived, intent on vandalism. Squares of upcycled knits were threaded into fiber graffiti pillowcases of coziness with calming wafts of perfume from crochet blossoms. This is a rejuvenating place to let your eyelids close and dream under the foliage of glorious trees, birds twittering, majestic sky and twinkling stars. Even with cars zooming past and game rangers that hang about like peeping toms, bedbugs would never bite in a scene of sublime serenity such as this... *A few days later, when the summer showers soaked the pillowcases, The Yarn Bombers (code names Heartist and Champaign Queen) gifted the pillowcases to the inspirer of the bedtime story, Johannes. Visit Bedtime Story |
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“Give a girl the right shoes and she can conquer the world!” - Marilyn Monroe
Setting the scene:
The Soweto girls’ primary mode of travel is by foot. Slippers are cheap but not great for jumping puddles during summer rains or for offering warmth in winter. In fashionable circles, high heels solicit adoration but when a girl can’t afford to have multiple pairs hoarded in her cupboard, the chance to ‘earn’ a pair that is waterproof, warm, comfortable and fun is an exciting opportunity.
Plot:
Nuren Govender of Osprey Technologies wanted to make a generous donation to our group and was surprised when we said, no thanks! After an explanatory brainstorm, Nuren agreed to be a part of our first Trade Not Aid pilot project to teach the girls in Soweto about: trade, quality of exchange, entrepreneurial skills, budget, materials, idea generation, production and project management. What goes into making a Story Scarf?
Process:
Each girl had to produce a personalized, handmade scarf from upcycled fabric for a chosen Osprey client as a festive season gift - to barter for a pair of shoes. The girls learnt about bilateral trade and collaboration for mutual benefit. Nuren received the scarves and has gifted them to his clients. The girls have decided to wait for next winter to receive their footwear as they would like fashionable gumboots that are out of stock at the mo. Watch for the follow up story.
Lesson:
Our think-tank has been pondering the Trade Not Aid philosophy. Aid is not always the assistance it intends to be. Aid sometimes erodes accountability and leads to dependency on donors, undermining the dignity of the recipients. Handouts are not an effective way to achieve prosperity. Trade is the proven route out of poverty. Girls in Soweto learnt to use their skills to produce and exchange/barter a tradable commodity for things that they need but cannot afford.
“We all have the necessary resources available to us at all times. This project was a reminder that creativity and looking within ourselves, are just some of those resources.” - Nuren Govender, Osprey Technologies This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
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Have you ever heard desperate tears on the other end of a mobile phone coupled with a stifled voice afraid to speak? Have you ever recognized the caller ID and braced yourself for the worst. Spilling open through choked sobs, the caller confides that her husband has beaten her and she’s fled into the street, barefoot in a thin sleep shirt with her cell phone in hand. She’s run to the police station and is on the sidewalk outside, afraid to go in. She’s in pain as her jaw and head ache. You feel helpless as you hear her fear, too far a distance to dash over. All you have is the phone line. She opens the door and walks into the police station, hope for help in every brave footstep. She looks around and notices there are no female police officers on duty and no counselors. The policeman at the counter half looks up and tells her to sit in the waiting area. He’ll send a police car to take her home. Traumatic emotions fill their house when her husband is arrested in front of her petrified daughters. They take him to the station and release him soon after. You receive a second call - she tells you that he cannot be charged, that according to African custom the two families must meet to discuss the situation. She grabs her children and fleas to a house of safety.
That this incident happened during the 16days of activism makes you real with confusion. What kind of message is our judicial system sending to women and girls in our country? Does Correctional Services believe that a mother should build a fort out of blankets to shelter herself and her children from the violent abuser they call dad? What kind of protection is that? Is domestic abuse becoming so regular that they’ve lost empathy for the violated? Surely, cultural norms need to change and multiple intersecting oppressions must be addressed. Clearly, if he is hitting her, it´s not a healthy relationship. It’s definitely not love.
The domestic violence act specifies that women who are abused at home are entitled to a protection order. There are laws in existence to protect women, and the state is failing to implement them.
Are we saying NO loud enough? 16days is NOT enough for the message to reach the abusers. This is a campaign that should reign for 365days annually, continuously. > 16.4.365
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16 Days of Activism to End Violence Against Girls and Women |
Through creativity, purposeful communities of girls can heal other girls across cultures, ethnicity and socio-economic divides. "When you work in creativity and imagination, you work in healing, inevitably." - Dr Dorian Haarhoff
Do you know your status?
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The Jozi Yarn Bomb Squad With a definitive spring-is-sprung energy, bouquets of blossoms bloom in the southern hemisphere. The adventure began by spring cleaning yarn stashes and rebirthing unfinished knitting projects into glorious scarves that embrace our tree in love. Neighbours eagerly hugged the magnificent pillar with its coat-of-many-colours... wrapping arms around its majestic trunk magically brought giggling smiles! The tree huggers continued their strolls with a renewed spring in their step. The Jozi Squad’s intention is simply to make the world a brighter, happier place! Go hug a tree! |
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This story is inspired by my friend, Robyn Ringgold, who wrote one of my favourite books: My Mom Hugs Trees - "Do you think your Mom does strange things? Well, my Mom hugs trees, rescues bugs, sings with birds, and talks to flowers. Come meet my Mom. You might end up doing strange things too!" More yarn bombing adventures: Yarn Bombing Mandela Day |
Story Scarves celebrates sassy women and girls every day! This Women's Day we're honoring the good men that have reached out to our sista's in the hood, the Heroes for our Sheroes! Geoffrey Canada is an advocate for education reform and founded Harlem Children's Zone, one of the most ambitious social experiments of our time, covering 100 blocks and serving over 10 000 children and their families in Harlem, USA. This is a story of a Harlem hero, Dahmein McFadden.
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On a snow laden December day, the charismatic Dahmein, a tall, gentle giant with a deep husky voice and the most caring nature, welcomed me to Harlem Childrens Zone where he is the Program Director. Dahmein had connected with me through social media and although we had chatted online this was the first time we were meeting... and my first time in Harlem. Dahmein had gathered girls, teachers and councilors and I was enveloped in the warmth of their bubbly energy. We giggled at my strange South African accent as I cut blankets that had been donated for upcycling. As they made their scarves/gifts for the girls in Soweto, Dahmein made his very own Story Scarf too, for a GUY in Soweto! He smiled as he sewed chatting about his daughters and all the girls he mentors in Harlem. As I boarded the plane home, laden with Story Scarves for girls in Soweto, I contemplated my role as the weaver of stories and friendships from Harlem to Soweto. I wonder... imagine the creation of 'Promise Neighborhoods' across Soweto based on the comprehensive zone concept in Harlem. Rebuilding our communities so that our children can stay on track... from Harlem to Soweto. Thank you Dahmein for being a role model for all the men and boys in Harlem... and mostly for being a connector between two contexts that are so distant in geography but so close in spirit. Friends Mostly Near, Not Far. "When we talk about women's rights, some men think this means the emasculation or the disempowerment of men. This is not true, because all nations that prosper can only achieve this through mutual respect and the working together of both men and women." Zweli Mkhize - KwaZulu-Natal Premier |
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Makers: Harlem
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Receivers: Soweto
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The Jozi Yarn Bomb Squad had missile-lift-off at the crack of dawn on Mandela Day! Wooden sculptured heads on Mary Fitzgerald Square in Newtown transformed into mannequins adorned with Story Scarves and Bombed Beanies.
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Yarn bombers grabbed knitting needles and crochet hooks, dug out unfinished knitting projects and wool and upcycled them into short, long, thick, thin, plain and fanciful Story Scarves and Bombing Beanies. There was a kick-ass sense of naughtiness that added to the thrill as we nonchalantly walked through the square joking about our incognito disguises and code names. We explained to skeptical security guards that our secret mission was vandalism with good intention… and we survived the interrogation! It took just 67minutes to yarn bomb and gift curious bystanders, on their way to work, winter-warm goodwill gifts. Most of the surprised recipients loved the quirkiness and luscious colours of our craft graffiti and said they would gift them to their daughters and granddaughters. Happy birthday Tata Madiba! It's in our hands to make a difference… and we did it with needles, fabric and yarn! Tagging Newtown was de bomb! |
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What is Yarn Bombing? From blanketing city buses in knit to wrapping trees in crochet, crafters are going yarn wild! It's a rebirth, a homage to handmade that's contagiously embracing groups worldwide. Yarn bombing, yarn storming and guerrilla knitting are the street arts of craft graffiti made of yarn bombs or yarn storms. Yarn bombing is reclaiming sterile public spaces and participants are viewed as fiber artists rather than vandals. It's the Street Art of Craft Graffiti for good. |
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Yearning for a good yarn? Join our Jozi Yarn Bomb Squad as we plan our next Yarn Bomb. Spin a yarn with us by joining our group on Ravelry For further info contact @StoryScarves or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
More Mandela Day Stories: Madiba Magic
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At the break of dawn on a chilly Jo’burg winter’s morning, @StaceyStories arrived @CrownePlazaJhb to meet Stewart from @Williams_Hunt. We filled a truck with 250 blankets and watched the city awaken as we drove to Soweto. The 30 @StoryScarves teen girls had walked from their homes and were waiting on the grass, escaping shadows to find solar warmth. There was much joy as they received blankets for themselves and their siblings. Mama lead the group in a prayer of gratitude, and they all walked home wrapped in warmth. |
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Thanks @Williams_Hunt for generously offering to transport blankets and accompany me into the heart of grassroots where warm blankets are needed the most. #TBD is not only about the Tweeps, the stats and the numbers. It's about the distribution, the reach to the people that are in need. The outcome is just as important as the idea. Isn't that what making a difference is all about?
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Kutemwe received Story Scarves made by children at a school in Kwa-Zulu Natal. She walked from her home in a compound in Lusaka, Zambia, to visit her Abuye (granny in Tumuka, her home language). As Kutemwe walked, she saw a group of school girls in the distance and decided that they would be worthy recipients of the Story Scarves she had in her handbag. Girls in Lusaka prefer to walk in groups for the long 30 minute route to school and back as they look out for each other and feel safer. The girls were surprised when Kutemwe explained that the scarves were gifts from children in South Africa, a country they had only learnt of in geography class. Kute told them that she simply wanted to put a smile on their faces... and she sure did!
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Kutemwe wrote, "When I reached my Abuye's home, I told Abuye the story of my walk and that I had one scarf left, made by a girl in Diepsloot. Together we gifted the scarf to my Abuye's neighbor's daughter. It was a very joyous walk!" Kutemwe didn't have a camera so she took snaps with her cell phone. It took her months until she managed to upload the photos from her phone and send them to us as she had bad cell phone reception. We are so grateful to Kutemwe for spreading goodwill in Zambia.
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Read the story of the makers in Kwa-Zulu Natal
Stories
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