African Threads and the Grandmothers to Grandmothers Campaign by Valerie Hearder

When Valerie Hearder wrote to tell us her Africa story, we were blown away and asked her to share it with all of you. We are so proud to end our Mama Africa theme with her piece, which will introduce you to the amazing Grandmothers who are almost single-handedly nurturing the millions of children orphaned by HIV/AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa. Please visit Valerie’s site and support her mission to empower these courageous, creative and compassionate women. Mama Africa, indeed.

Six years ago while listening to the radio, my life changed course in an instant. I’m a textile artist and quilt maker who’s always been passionate about the power of the stitch and its story-telling magic. My 35 years of stitching, teaching and writing all seemed to lead to the moment I heard Stephen Lewis talking about the impact of the HIV/AIDS pandemic. I was galvanized as Lewis, who’d been the United Nations Special Envoy on HIV/AIDS in Africa, explained how the Grandmothers were holding their shattered communities together and caring for many of the estimated 16 million orphans in sub-Saharan Africa.  I was born in South Africa and lived there till I was 23 before moving to Canada, so I was deeply moved by the humbling stories of the African Grandmothers and by Lewis’ passionate commitment to social and economic justice for women.

Before he had finished talking, I’d formulated a plan; I’d start importing and retailing handmade textiles from women artists in South Africa. And so African Threads was born. My simple goal was to create economic flow to the women artisans as directly as possible using fair trade principles. In addition, 15% of the profits would be donated to the Grandmothers to Grandmothers Campaign.

Quilting friends in South Africa connected me to stitchery groups and, since then, battered boxes festooned with exotic stamps regularly arrive at my rural Nova Scotia post office, all the way from South Africa.

Unpacking these boxes, I’m consistently moved by the vibrant colors, beautiful hand-stitching and rich narrative of the pieces. Each one-of-a-kind embroidered or appliquéd piece is a story from the maker’s life: perhaps a legend, historical event, cultural ceremony or simply daily chores. Sometimes the tapestries are profoundly touching, featuring images of AIDS clinics, grannies caring for children, women working the fields. My heart skipped a beat when I saw this little piece by Moela who lives in a sprawling, desperately poor Township near Johannesburg, South Africa. Most of the houses there are cobbled together with corrugated iron, cardboard and plastic. Moela’s tender image shows someone caring for a sick person. But look closely: the image shows the caretaker is a child. The embroidered words say: It is useful for caregivers to care enough to help children. This image speaks volumes about a new phenomenon that has spread in Africa: households headed by children. These are the children not lucky enough to have a Grandmother to turn to when their parents succumb to AIDS.

These beautifully stitched stories are a testament to human dignity. Moela is just one of hundreds of women in the sewing groups I connect with through African Threads. The groups are a vital social support network as well as the sole source of income for the embroiderers, all of whom are single mothers and grandmothers, many of them supporting up to 12 people with their work.

It’s well known that economic empowerment is the most effective way to help women in Africa. It ripples out into the community. Women with control over their income educate their children, feed their extended families and help neighbors. And it’s a powerful self-esteem booster. Women don’t want charity; they want an income.

Two years ago I went back to South Africa and spent six weeks visiting stitchery groups. I delivered bags of embroidery threads, gifts from women in Canada – a symbolic gesture of solidarity and connection. Talking to the women about their families and their work gave me deep empathy for their lives. I learned that their stitched cloths not only tell their stories, they also heal them. African Threads currently works with nine women’s groups with products including Zulu beaded necklaces, embroidered home décor items, ceremonial dolls, telephone wire baskets and embroidered tapestries.