THE CARE BEAR PROJECT

The Care Bear Project is a community project uplifting local rural communities, by providing employment and much-needed income for the families in the form of a knitting kit and payment for completed bears, and by using the product of their work, the bears, as a means of bringing joy to the children in the communities - many of who have never received a new toy in their life! Our knitters are all black women, predominantly pensioners, who are most often the mainstay of the family. These grandparents have all to often lost their own children to AIDS, and now finding themselves supporting grandchildren. One of the significant advantages of The Care Bear Project is that there are no costs involved to the knitters aswe give them the full knitting kit, and they knit at home in their own time, so there are no transport costs. They are still then able to look after the children, and run their households. Each bear costs R80 to make, of which R50 is paid directly to the knitter. The balances cover the wool, stuffing, needles and distribution costs. No money is paid from the project to any administrative staff, these are all volunteers.