2008 Woodie Awards
Dolls offer hope for African AIDS victims
By: Diana Sheldon
Issue date: 11/14/07 Section: News
Last update: 11/14/07 at 6:39 AM EST
Last update: 11/14/07 at 6:39 AM EST
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After spending time volunteering in South Africa, Schwartz returned to the University of Manitoba wearing one of these handmade pins, Warren said. Someone asked Schwartz if they could buy the pin off of him for five dollars, sparking his interest in founding Little Travellers.
Forty percent of the funds earned from selling the beaded doll pins go to the women who made them, with the rest of the profits going to funding a new respite unit at the Hillcrest AIDS Centre.
"All of the money from Little Travellers goes to providing unconditional love for those infected with HIV/AIDS," Warren said. "It does this by economically empowering the women who make them, as well as providing the money to build a new respite unit."
Approximately 100 women currently work with the Hillcrest AIDS Centre in crafting the pins. Warren said a part of the center's mission is spreading the word about the women behind the pins by encouraging buyers to wear them as often as they can. As a result, the pins have become very fashionable in South Africa, she said.
Warren said she has made an effort to get undergraduates involved in Little Travellers.
Sophomore Julia Chapman, a Baldwin scholar, said she decided to work with Little Travellers after Warren spoke to her group about selling the dolls.
"I met Audrey through the Baldwin Scholars program," Chapman said. "Because Audrey is somewhat separated from undergraduate life, she spoke to the Baldwin scholar women to see if we would be able to help with this program. I was really excited about what she was doing and started working with her."
Forty percent of the funds earned from selling the beaded doll pins go to the women who made them, with the rest of the profits going to funding a new respite unit at the Hillcrest AIDS Centre.
"All of the money from Little Travellers goes to providing unconditional love for those infected with HIV/AIDS," Warren said. "It does this by economically empowering the women who make them, as well as providing the money to build a new respite unit."
Approximately 100 women currently work with the Hillcrest AIDS Centre in crafting the pins. Warren said a part of the center's mission is spreading the word about the women behind the pins by encouraging buyers to wear them as often as they can. As a result, the pins have become very fashionable in South Africa, she said.
Warren said she has made an effort to get undergraduates involved in Little Travellers.
Sophomore Julia Chapman, a Baldwin scholar, said she decided to work with Little Travellers after Warren spoke to her group about selling the dolls.
"I met Audrey through the Baldwin Scholars program," Chapman said. "Because Audrey is somewhat separated from undergraduate life, she spoke to the Baldwin scholar women to see if we would be able to help with this program. I was really excited about what she was doing and started working with her."
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