The “duduza,” or comfort, dolls are made from yarn scraps and filled with polyester stuffing, so there is little or no cost.  The pattern is simple making it a good beginner project and an easy one for the experienced.  The knitting of the duduza dolls is part of a grassroots effort in support of a Vermont-based organization, CHABHA (Children Affected by HIV/AIDS). 

CHABHA is a non-profit organization founded in 2002, whose mission is to raise awareness in the US about the plight of children in Africa and to support community-based projects in Namibia, South Africa and Rwanda.  They have two requirements when choosing projects to provide funding to, says CHABHA board member Jane Davis.  First, the projects need to aid children and families affected by the HIV/AIDS virus.  Second, the initiatives need to be started in the African countries and run by the people who live there. 

Davis recently returned from a trip to Rwanda and South Africa where she and CHABHA founder, Susanna Grannis, distributed four suitcases full of dolls to HIV/AIDS affected children.  Most of the children she encountered have been orphaned by HIV/AIDS.  Many of them suffered from the disease themselves.  She met with the Friday morning knitting class at The Creative Stitch to share her experience, photos and insight.  The informal discussion let local knitters who have contributed to the project know how much their effort means.

Despite the hardships the children face on daily basis, Davis said there is “still so much hope and so much joy” in the children.  Upon receiving the dolls, some of the children would immediately bring them close to their heart. 

“They can’t eat a doll but they still need comfort,” she said.  She explained how in their short lives the children have seen more than their share of suffering, many living through the Rwandan genocide while others have lost their parents to AIDS. 

Her pictures showed the children holding the dolls high in the air, some cradling them like an infant, and others clutching them close.  Some knitters were able to pick out their own handmade dolls in the pictures making their efforts come full circle. 

On this trip, the dolls were distributed to CHABHA supported organizations in both Rwanda and South African.  The Rwandan organizations, Agape (or “love”), AJESOV (an acronym for Association of Volunteer Youth Helping Orphans Affected), hold weekly meetings with hundreds of kids.  They gather each weekend to provide support and learn traditional songs and dance.  Both organizations strive to provide for education, health care and food for struggling children.   

Another Rwandan organization, Amahoro (or “peace”), was started by eight young people in their late teens.  The founders has been orphaned by genocide and realized there were more kids, even younger than themselves, heading households.   CHABHA gave them a stock of dolls to distribute during Amohoro’s regular home visits. 

“The whole idea of comfort is so appealing,” said Davis, “[on a prior trip to Africa] I saw one toy in two weeks.” 

The duduza doll initiative has grown tremendously in the last year.  On their last visit, CHABHA representatives arrived with 215 dolls and were confronted with a thousand children who each wanted one of their own.  They vowed to return with more dolls. 

Here in Cohasset, interest and participation in the making of the duduza dolls has spanned generations.  Grandmothers, parents and high school students have contributed to the project.  No one can resist the “cuteness” of the small, brightly colored dolls.  Each doll is given a distinct personality, thanks for the creativity of the knitter. 

“The dolls are infectious,” said Staci Gilbert, a member of the Friday morning knitting class. 

Kristen Ross, owner of the Creative Stitch, has over 700 dolls currently in boxes, baskets and bags in her store.  She will continue to collect the dolls until she’s told there is no longer a need.

Knitters who would like to participate in this grassroots effort can pick up a pattern and instructions at The Creative Stitch located at 152 King St.  Instructions are also available www.creativestitchonline.com. 

For more information on CHABHA, visit http://www.chabha.org/