Just returned this sweet little book to the library, Knitting For Peace by Betty Christiansen…
One section that really left an impression on me was the Mother Bear Project, a non-profit that collects knitted bears and sends them to children in Africa affected by HIV/AIDS.
From the site:
The Mother Bear Project is dedicated to providing comfort and hope to children affected by HIV/AIDS in emerging nations, by giving them a gift of love in the form of a hand-knit or crocheted bear.
The simple gift of a hand-knit bear with a tag signed by the knitter has touched children with the message that they are unconditionally loved.
The pattern used is one from World War II that mothers used to make bears for their own children to comfort them.
(available from Ravelry, the Mother Bear site (link below), or in the book, Knitting for Peace)
The pattern is interesting in its construction too, it is knitted in one piece with the arms picked up and knitted later. A great way to use scrap yarn and get creative! They ask that the bears are made from cheerful, bright colors. When bears are received by volunteers at the project, they then sew a red heart to the front of each bear. Details regarding construction and shipping can be found of the Mother Bear Project site (link below).
More photos of the happy recipients
For more information, check out this site, bears can be sent anytime…
http://www.motherbearproject.org/
Check out this blog too to see children with their bears
World AIDS Day this year is December 1, 2011, my goal is to make six! I’ll keep you posted about the progress!
