What is the Ragdoll Initiative? – The Ragdoll Initiative is a skills-development, income-generating, self-sustaining, multifaceted, recycling program that is designed to reach the core of the caregiver; bringing about a holistic approach in the raising and caring of vulnerable children.
How will it work? – Caregivers will be taught the skills of making ragdolls and during this period, they will develop their skills of awareness, accountability, dedication, tenacity, patience, consistency, discipline, contemplation and a sense of pride and satisfaction. Once these skills are acquired, the caregivers will become home-based where they will continue to manufacture dolls of quality that will be exchanged for money, while another group is in training. There are three phases to the program.
- During the initial stage, we aim to produce enough dolls to provide for the local market, especially during the 2010 World Cup event that will bring many foreigners to our country. The money earned during this phase will be placed in a fund to purchase the dolls from the caregivers, demonstrating to them the law of energy exchange in the form of money for effort. It will take time for the caregivers to reach the point of producing a doll of quality, allowing this fund to be established through the sale of your ragdoll.
- Once the caregivers are equipped, their dolls will represent the children in their care. The packaging and accompanying literature will elevate this initiative to a whole new level, making it a personal process that will involve much more than an exchange of money.
- The final phase is to market these personalized ragdolls on the International Platform, where they will tell their stories. It will once again raise the bar for both the child and the caregiver, leaving behind a legacy and ensuring that they will be remembered by someone, somewhere.
How can you help? – It is during this initial stage that your help is most needed to assist us in producing at least 200 ragdolls. Depending on your available time and skills (both sewing and creative) we would appreciate your participation in this worthy cause. A standardized Ragdoll Kit has been prepared for you to sew (basic instructions are on the back of this note). Any and all help will be appreciated.
- You can choose to only sew – solid old-fashioned stitches please, as we were taught, with matching yarn – and return it, where we will complete your doll.
- Or, perhaps you have an old pillow or threadbare sheet (torn in strips) that can be recycled into stuffing, after which you can return the doll. We will dress it and make it smile.
- You may even be creative enough to give it a face and hair that will complement its essence.
- The ultimate for us would be if you make, decorate and dress the doll in your own unique way.
What to remember? - There are a number of points to keep in mind.
- The recycling aspect of this initiative is important to us and all little scraps should be returned for further use. Should you have pieces of material/wool that can be used by someone else, please let us know.
- Time is also important as we have much to do in preparation, so, if you are not able to help, please tell those that can help about this initiative. We hope to have 200 completed dolls by end March 2010.
- Phases 2 and 3 will their own needs that you may wish to participate in. Although the current group of caregivers is based in Etwatwa, a township far on the East Rand (near Springs), this program may be operational in an area near you sooner rather than later, allowing you active participation – if you so wish.
- A website http://www.ragdollinitiative.blogspot.com/ has been created in preparation for phase 3 and your comments will be of great value to us in the crawling stage of this project.
Further Funding Requirements – The nature of this initiative is to become self-sustaining by producing a ragdoll of high enough quality to entice someone, somewhere to purchase it for a fee sufficient to cover the labour, material and psycho-social needs of its maker. There are many factors, other than the doll itself that will be required to ensure the long-term success of this program. Funders for packaging, marketing etc will be sought in due course and your awareness of ‘Who’s Who’ in your own network may prove to be a necessary step in ensuring that these children and their caregivers do not pass through this world without telling their heartbreaking stories. Kate Rheeders is the force behind The Ragdoll Initiative and she is reachable by phone on 083-757-1101, through email at rheeders@mweb.co.za and on the website http://www.ragdollinitiative.blogspot.com/.
