tdgiffin

The missionary who took some of my first batches of pillowcase dresses to Africa was kind enough to send back some pictures of girls wearing the dresses. If I understood better the directions for how tompost them, I would.

It was a fantastic feeling to see those happy faces receiving a new dress for the first time. The kids there are dressed it tatters for the most part. When you have to choose between food and clothes, you choose the food.


I have posted it before, but I will post it again in case anyone is interested in helping out. The name of the organization that normally distributes these dresses is Little Dresses for Africa. I am lucky because I can directly distribute my dresses. Www.littledressesforafrica.com. The website includes patterns for making dresses and britches.

In addition, there is another charity called Days for Girls. You can sew special kits for them to distribute to the older girls in these orphanages. It is a delicate subject, so I will post this carefully as I know that some of you might be interested in sewing for this. This ministry supplies young ladies with special kits that girls need for that special time of the month. They do not have access to the needed items during that time, and therefore miss out on a week of school each month. That is a lot of missed education. If you google Days for Girls, you will find more info there. I will not be sewing these kits becauss I am devoted to the dresses and britches, but some of you may like this project better. The good thing about what is in the kits is that everything is washable and reusable. They also send volunteers to teach the ladies how to make their own items in the hopes that they will pass this on to others.

It is so gratifying to see something that goes from your humble hands and home into the hands of a child sho may not have experienced the love we feel when someone makes something for us. I try to press love into every stitch, honestly! I hope that some of it makes its way across the miles, and into the hearts of children who need it so much!

TanyaL

you must have a generous heart filled with love. Maybe you have a friend at church that can post the pictures for you.
We would love to see them.

NanaCsews2

Thank you for sharing. It is my goal very soon to incorporate time while I am sewing quilts to making more of these dresses. I need to get more organized on my time so that the dresses get done on a regular basis. I know if I stop everything and sew up a bunch of dresses, I will tire of it and then put it on the wayside. I don't want to do that. A little at a time will keep it going forever for me. I am a little more interested in the Days for Girls. It just reminds me so much of being in Junior High and being at school and then-well, you get the picture. Here is the link for those interested, and thanks again. This is definitely going to be a lifelong contribution for me.
http://www.daysforgirls.org/learn-more#!__learn-more

Grandma Peg

Sounds like a great program. Thanks to you for being so generous.

erstan947

Thank you for sharing this information♥

tdgiffin

You are so welcome! I love children sooo much, and I especially have a big soft spot for children who suffer from not having loving parents or other basic needs met. Sending clothes and love is such a small thing, but if it gives a child even one moment of joy, amd a sense of value, it is sure worth it!

No one needs to, or should, thank me. I get all of the joy I need from knowing what happens when the kids get the clothes. That is the biggest reward. Bless all of you who give of yourselves to improve lives of others! You always get more out of it than you put into it, and that is the truth!

DogHouseMom

Thank you for posting both ... the kits for girls, wow. How could I have gone on living this long without realizing by my wits that this is one of the simple things that I've always taken for granted that is not available to less fortunate souls. I feel so ashamed. I'm going to look into that one.

DogHouseMom

Check this out ... when you go to "Days for Girls" website and use the provided link to Fabric.Com ... DFGI will receive a portion of the proceeds of your purchase. But you must use the link on the DFGI website. You can't go direct to Fabric.com. Also Hancocks.

http://www.daysforgirls.org/learn-mo...=shop-and-help

tdgiffin

I think that. I should do a separate post for Days for Girls just to create more awareness. I am not sure where I should post it. Let me look into it.

Monroe

Making the pillowcase dresses for Little Dresses for Africa is very easy, quick, and above all fun! I tweaked the pattern a bit and start with pillowcases made "Burrito" or "Hot Dog" style from fabrics in my stash. I'm planning on tucking some hair clips or ribbons in the pockets. The dresses go all over the world wherever there is a need, even the US. Good for you!
Please do start a separate post about the Special Days- it's a great way to use stash and scraps, and so important. Thank you for raising awareness!