- Puts food on the table for over 160 crafters. Every Traveller sold equates into a loaf of bread and a litre of milk. The more Travellers sold, the more famillies are fed and employed.
- Travellers are a symbol of hope. By wearing one, you join the Traveller Family and the fight against HIV/ADIS and poverty.
- Travellers are sold all over the world by individuals and shops
- Little Travellers inspired a photographic competition with students and Traveller supporters sending photos of their Travellers from all over the world.
- Little Traveller movie "Uhambi" was part of the official selection at the 46th Chicago International Film Festival.
- Little Traveller Heroes climbed Mount Everest with Jeff Dorsett and the Gap EVEREST TEAM INPI(RED) 2008.
- Little Travellers had a Cake Baking competition at Wien Cake House in Itaewon, Korea in 2008
- Little Travellers inspired a photographic exhibition in 2008.
- Karen Monk Klijnsttra creates a fashoin range showcased a the Design Indaba.
Fact File
Welcome to the World of the Little Traveller
"The Little Travellers HIV/AIDS project is totally inspired. I endorse it every stitch of the way. It raises consciousness in Canada and hope in Africa. In my minds eye, I can just see the women of Hillcrest (a project the Stephen Lewis Foundation strongly supports) beading, and spectacularly artful "Little Travellers" emerging. Then the sales are made in Canada, and money flows to the heroic women and children and families battling the pandemic on the ground. What could be a better act of human solidarity? Buy one, buy two, buy dozens. They speak to the best of the human spirit. "
Stephen Lewis, Board Chair, Stephen Lewis Foundation
About Woza Moya
Woza Moya is an income generation project of the Hillcrest AIDS Centre Trust. It helps those in need regain Hope and Dignity by getting them to use their creativity to earn an income. At present Woza Moya acts as an agent for over 200/300 crafters. As the AIDS epidemic increases more families are turning to us for help and we assist them by offering training in different crafts. Woza Moya markets the goods made and we have a small shop on the centre premises. The Little Travellers are one of the Craft products we produce at the centre.
The project has proven that with the right care and access to medication lives can be turned around. We have found that economic empowerment is one of the most important factors in fighting this epidemic because as it gives the crafters the luxury of looking to the future. In doing so they take ownership of their disease and have something to live FOR! The health benefits of this alone can never be underestimated.
How the Little Travellers were born
The Little Travellers came into being in 2002 when the crafters sat down and made the first prototypes. We were so excited by the outcome that we wanted to take the first ones and start selling them immediately. The crafters said that they would not part with their dolls and that we should be patient as they would make more and bring those to me and so our journey with these special dolls began...
As promised, many Little Travellers made their way to the Centre and we started selling them immediately – no one could resist their charm. We sold these little dolls at flea markets, conferences and schools. Certainly, nobody in the Hillcrest area could be seen without one! As time went by, the crafters had orders for Little Travellers from around the country and indeed, around the world. These dolls soon became what we termed “food on the table” as this was bread and butter money for our crafters.
Small Dolls - Big Impact
These dolls are symbols of hope because they have enabled beaders to put food on the table, connect running water to their homes, make electricity connections and purchase of essential items.
Each Doll Has a Story to Tell
The women who make these Little Travellers, love making these symbols of hope. Each crafter gives each doll its own character, so each Little Traveller is unique.
We have over 160 beaders who are either affected or infected by HIV/AIDS and we can tell which women made which doll. When the beaders go out or come in to the Centre, they wear their Little Travellers as symbols of pride, hope and of what is possible. Most of the crafters are the only in a breadwinner and our last survey showed that on average each crafter is supporting between 10 – 7 dependants.
Little Travellers continue to evolve and change. The range is extensive ranging from angels with wings, dreadlocked ravers, ABBA maniacs, Gogos (grannies) to mothers with babies. In short, there is a Little Traveller to suit every whim and individual.
About The Hillcrest AIDS Centre Trust
The Hillcrest AIDS Centre Trust is a holistic HIV/AIDS project which was started in 1991. Since its inception, the Centre has attempted to uplift the lives of those both infected and affected by HIV/AIDS through practical and sustainable care. As new challenges and opportunities have presented themselves, the Centre has adapted its approach to addressing both the disease and the effects of it on the community.
The Centre looks at each family and individual and tries to create a package of care that suits them, with the knowledge that everyone's needs or perceived needs are different. This way the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of people are addressed. Most importantly however, our mission is to provide unconditional love to members of our community that are infected and affected by HIV/AIDS.