The Highveld Smockers Guild

The Highveld Smockers Guild

'Forget-me-Not' Project

Members Only Contact Us

Our Guild
Home
Latest News
About Us
Our History

Smocking
History
Types

Projects
Forget-me-not
Smocking Competition

Links and Info
Teachers
Suppliers
Other Guilds
General Links

Contact Details
Become a Member
Contact Us

-{Members Only}-

In 1995 the Guild became involved in the Wee Care Project. The members made many smocked gowns, as well as knitted hats, bonnets and booties, for premature and small babies, and these were donated to various hospitals in the Johannesburg area.

However, due to the socio-political situation in South Africa, it became obvious that our communities have different needs from those found in other parts of the world where the Wee Care Projects have been so successful. In South Africa, there are a large number of abandoned and orphaned babies and young children, mainly as a result of the HIV / AIDS epidemic. This means that many babies and children are being cared for in Orphanages and Children's Homes.

The Highveld Smockers' Guild has therefore 'adopted' one of these Homes - St Joseph's Home - and now provides the children with a new smocked Christmas outfits, and other handmade items. Many of these children have never previously received new items which they can call their own. Most things they receive are 'hand-me-downs' or things that have to be shared by everyone. We have decide to call this our 'Forget-me-Not' Project.

In addition to supplying clothing, the members of the Guild arrange for each of the school-going children to receive new stationery at the beginning of the year, and a kind 'friend' of the Guild has offered to provide a wonderful birthday cake for each child so that they can celebrate their birthday with others in the Home.

The 'Forget-me-Not' Project is funded through various means - donations received from members and friends of the Guild; income generated from the sale of unwanted sewing-related goods by members at the Guild meetings; and income from the entry fees to the occasional 'fun' competition run by the Guild for Guild members.

The motto of the 'Forget-me-Not' Project is:

'You can give without loving, but you can't love without giving.'