St. Peters Love Quilts

St. Peters Love QuiltsGifts from American children to South African orphans

St. Peters Love Quilts: Gifts from American children to South African orphans.1

What is a Love Quilt?

The love quilt is made by sewing together 20 log cabin quilt blocks, each with a hand-drawn depiction of love in the center. The artists of these art squares are American children in schools, churches, scout troops and camps. The purpose of the art squares, and ultimately the quilt, is to provide warmth for a South African orphan and to show all the things love can be and how it can be shared.

Why is there a need for quilts for South African children? Lets look briefly at South Africa itself.2

South Africa

South Africa is at the tip of the African continent. South Africans have been referred to as the rainbow nation, a title which epitomizes the countrys cultural diversity, one of the most complex and diverse in the world. There are four major native tribal groups such as the Xhosi and Zulu. And, there are British, Dutch, Portuguese, French, Indian, Chinese and residents from many other countries. The people of South Africa speak eleven official languages. America has one official language English. 3

Beautiful Country

There are many beautiful areas in South Africa. Its three main cities are Pretoria, Johannesburg and Cape Town. 4

History of South Africa

The history of South Africa is long and complicated. After Africa was discovered by European explorers in the 17th century, there began a centuries-long fight for land. Europeans wanted the land, initially, to establish places to restock their ships going around the Horn of Africa and on to India. The tribal people wanted to keep their land to continue their way of life and for their homes and farming. As Europeans settled in South Africa they wanted more land for their homes, their farming and sheep grazing. Many battles took place with different groups winning, but primarily the tribal Africans were losing. As they lost, more and more of their land was taken from them. As the European-based government grew, more rights were taken away from the tribal people. In 1913 the tribal South Africans were restricted to certain areas of the country. Although they formed more than three-quarters of the population, they were restricted to less than one-fifth of the land. 5

Apartheid

Over the years, South Africa became more divided between the tribal people and the settlers and hatred grew. In 1948, the government enforced a separation of the races (white and black) which is called Apartheid. The tribal people were restricted to small areas of land called townships. They had little food or water and even built homes of metal boxes or whatever they could find. Finding jobs was difficult for those in the townships unless they were able to find work in the mines or on farms owned by whites and received very little pay. With little food, close quarters and no jobs, disease and discontent spread. 6

Struggles

After many years the tribal South Africans had no choice but to stand up for themselves and fight for their freedom. A Xhosa man named Nelson Mandela became the leader of the African National Congress party and led the fight against unfair laws. He was put into prison for his views in the 1960s and after 27 years there, he was finally freed in 1990. In 1994 he was elected President of South Africa in a democratic election. During his presidency he helped his country begin to heal from the many years of hatred. Unfortunately, it was difficult to change the huge townships that had developed during Apartheid. And today, the country is still struggling to find solutions for making townships better places to live. 7

Life in the Townships

More recently in the townships, poverty and discrimination have led to many becoming ill and dying from a disease called AIDS, leaving their children orphaned. Today, more than 2 million children live in South Africa with no parents. The challenge for the government is to find ways to take care of so many orphaned children.

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History of the Love Quilts

One solution is to build homes for family groupings of children with a house mother. This allows children to live in their town and have a more normal life. When parishioners at St. Peters Episcopal Church in Arlington, Virginia found out about the homes, they became interested in supporting the Homes to Homes project in South Africa . Homes to Homes seeks to build new homes for orphans. After several years of fundraising and coordinating with St. Francis Trust in South Africa, the home shown here was built in 2011 for 6 orphaned children and their foster care house mother.

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Trip to South Africa

In the summer of 2011, 27 members of St. Peters went to South Africa to help paint and decorate the home and yard. One activity included working with the children to paint a mural on the playground wall in the backyard of the house. 10

Blessing of the Quilts

And, they took with them a love quilt for each child in the house made of art squares that St. Peters Sunday School children had created. The art squares display each artists interpretation of love and the quilts were intended to give each child a sense of community and love. The quilts were blessed in a church service at St. Francis in South Africa.

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Examples of Art Squares

Here are a few examples of art squares that have been created for the quilts. All of the art squares were created by school-aged American children to show what they love. 12

Quilt Examples

And, here are some of the first quilts that were made with the art squares in the middle of each block. Volunteer quilters from across the United States incorporate the art squares into a unique quilt for one South African orphan.13

Children with Their Quilts

As you can see, the children in the first home loved their quilts. 14

Now Today

The housemother loved her quilt too. The quilts were so appreciated that St. Francis Trust asked if more quilts could be made for the beds of additional orphans in additional homes throughout South Africa. St. Peters is taking up the challenge to provide 50 quilts per year. Each quilt requires 19 art squares drawn by American children. Consequently, we are very happy that you are going to help us. 15

Before You Begin Your Art SquareWhat do you love?Family, friends, faith, pets, school, hobbies,

How can you share your ideas about love in your drawing?

As you think about what you will draw on your art square, think about the things you love and what makes you feel loved. How might you share your love with children who have so little? How can your drawing help another child feel loved? The quilt with your art square will not only wrap a South African child in warmth, but in love from you. St. Peters and the South African children thank you very much for your art work. 16

CreditsSouth African history and landscape photos from Google Images

Nelson Mandela photo from My Mandela Moment: http://mymandelamoment.org

Children and Township photos by Anna Fernau and Gretchen Ginnerty

Art Squares and Quilt photos by Gretchen Ginnery and Audrey VaughnSt. Peters Episcopal Church, Arlington, VA - 2012

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