Little Dresses for Africa (LDFA) was founded in 2008 to provide relief for children throughout Africa and beyond. The organisation encourages people from across the world to make little dresses from pillow cases, or other simple patterns. Donated dresses are then distributed to underprivileged children in orphanages, churches and schools, where volunteers also give informal sessions to increase knowledge of nutrition, clean water and sanitation.

UK ambassador Nicole Watson, who joined the organisation in 2015, tells us about a recent trip to Ghana.“I was lucky enough to visit earlier this year, and it was a real eye-opener. The poverty is everywhere and there are no social services, benefits or NHS,” she explains. “It makes you appreciate how blessed many of us are.”

SIMPLE CONCEPT
The campaign’s donated dresses are made from pillowcases, which means that the project is something that crafters of all levels can get involved in – with very little cost involved. “The idea is so simple that even a beginner can take part… I am not the greatest sewer myself but the pillowcase pattern is very easy,” Nicole tells us. “Before I got involved, I generally made tablecloths, cushions and aprons. Now I can make all kinds of little dresses!”

STITCHY SUCCESS
The work of Little Dresses for Africa is helping to make a difference throughout many African villages, especially those suffering from the widespread AIDS pandemic or recent Ebola crisis. It has proven a big success so far, with people of all ages around the UK getting involved in the cause, from girl guide groups to secondary schools. “People from all walks of life sew for us! The students at St Joseph’s College in Stoke-on-Trent are doing an amazing job to help the cause,” Nicole says. “To see the reaction of the children first-hand was an absolute blessing. They really are so grateful!”

During her recent trip to Ghana, Nicole explains how more than 20 children lived at the orphanage there, but during the day over 120 children would arrive for schooling and a meal of flavoured rice – often the only hot meal they would get.

SENDING HOPE
Since joining as a volunteer last year, Nicole hasn’t looked back. “Most of the children are from single parent families because they have lost a parent, so to know that you have given a child hope is an amazing feeling,” she says. “We help them to move on in their lives and have a reason to smile.”

Currently, Little Dresses for Africa sends donations to more than 83 countries, predominantly in Africa, but volunteers are always looking out for anyone who needs its help. “I was on a training course the other week, for my ‘real’ job, and I met a lady there from Israel who runs a retreat in Cambodia,” Nicole continues. “Now we’ll be sending dresses there for her to distribute in the near future!”

GET INVOLVED
If you’d like to get involved, you can send your own little dress. Alternatively, you can help by donating pillowcases, fabric, sewing supplies, elastic and double bias tape, or by making a donation to help ship thousands of dresses all over the world.

“We have had amazing support throughout the UK, but are always short of funds,” Nicole says. “It costs an average of £90 to send a shipment and we try, subject to funding, to ship once a month. We’d love the Sew readers to get involved – it’s amazing how something so simple can make a huge difference in the life of a little girl.”

You can send your finished dresses to: Little Dresses for Africa, Secret Linen Store, No 5, Durban Business Centre, Durban Road, Bognor Regis, PO22 9FE

With special thanks to Val Dobson, Lesley Hirst, Linda Nyles, Joan Bowles, Sarah Lloyd, Kathleen Harrop, Sass Tetslaff, Elizabeth Stromberg, I A Wardill, C Wilkinson, Gill Cowlam

For more information about Little Dresses for Africa, visit www.littledressesforafrica.org