Tumaini volunteers knit and sew for Tanzanian villagers
ARMED to the hilt with knitting and sewing needles, the Bailiwick’s Tumaini Fund volunteers have been keeping busy during lockdown to provide jumpers, sanitary pads, and blankets to Tanzanian children, widows and widowers in village communities in Kagera.
Dozens of volunteers, many in their 70s and 80s, have been knitting and sewing through the coronavirus pandemic and have said it has been great to have something to show for lockdown.
Many of the older volunteers have been in isolation since early March and they have felt it has given them a real sense of purpose and a great sense of achievement when another jumper, dress or blanket is ready.
Blankets have been crocheted, all manner of jumpers have been knitted, and cuddly toys have been created.
In addition, spare fabric donated before lockdown has been upcycled into multi-coloured dresses for three- to 14-year-old orphan girls, as well as donated towelling and fabrics turned into hundreds of reusable sanitary pads and bags for hygiene kits for those girls to continue to go to school all month.
Volunteer Yvonne Elliot said: ‘During lockdown I’ve done more sewing than I normally have time for.
‘So far, I’ve made 10 jumpers, a blanket, 12 dresses and over 300 washable pads for the girls.’
Former nurse and carer Madeleine Dawson has so far knitted 13 rainbow coloured jumpers and said how grateful she was for all the donated wool.
‘At night time I can’t sit doing nothing, just watching TV, so I’ve been knitting for Tumaini,’ she said.
Volunteers are based in Guernsey, Alderney and Sark with handmade items on the go in every parish in Guernsey.
Some friends even get together and share their creations online on Zoom and via Facetime.
Others knit and crochet at the same time as doing other things, including Angela de Garis, who has been crocheting blankets for the charity.
‘I absolutely love doing it,’ she said.
‘Last night I sat for 20 minutes just watching TV and I said to my husband, this is driving me crazy just sitting here, I can listen to the TV but have to be crocheting too.’
Once knitted, sewed and crocheted, the items are then packed in aid containers with donated medical equipment, IT, vocational and educational supplied before being shipped to Tanzania.
Tumaini Fund hygiene kit project co-ordinator, Sarah-Jane Allen said she wanted to extend a huge thank you to all those who have been busily sewing and knitting away through the coronavirus pandemic.
‘It’s wonderful to say thank you on behalf of all the children, widows and widowers in so many village communities in Kagera,’ she said.
‘The orphans and workers in Tanzania are so grateful for the love, skills and time volunteers put into everything they make.
‘It’s an inspiring community response and a colourful sign of hope, unity and compassion especially in these difficult times – power of positivity.’
Tumaini Fund chairwoman, Dr Susan Wilson, said she also wanted to thank the churches and many people in Guernsey who gave funds during lockdown.
n The Tumaini Fund is a Guernsey-based Christian charity that supports Aids orphans and widows in Kagera, northwest Tanzania with all levels of education, clean water wells, safe housing, sustainable employment and access to medical care.
