Children at informal settlement

Children at new schoolhouse at informal settlement. These tiny little ones are bringing in donated supplies, including food. The teacher works on a voluntary basis. The little girl with the baby doll on her back is wearing shorts with the number 23 on them! Chicago area visitors will know that these shorts have a Chicago connection! Another little girl is wearing what must be a secondhand party dress. These children are so eager to learn, in a safe environment, and where they are provided one meal a day.

More donations

Cute hats, adorable doll, sweet kimono and diaper pins. Overalls from same Kwiksew pattern as dress and bloomers below. Thank you so much.

Baby Pack donations from Polly, Molly, Louise and AD

Thanks for the wonderful handiwork. The babies are going to look so cute in these!

Used clothing dilemma!

Some disturbing correspondence with Val Bailey this week; two pallets of used clothing sent to the Baby Pack from Europe have not been released to her. Apparently there has been much trouble with used clothing, sent to South Africa as charitable contributions, being sold by unscrupulous individuals . As a result, the South African government has restricted the importation of second-hand clothing, unless the President declares a National Emergency or a regional disaster. I've been in contact with the South African embassy in Washington, DC., and this version has been confirmed. Hard to understand though it is, that is the situation at present. I have been given contact numbers and names for the consulate in Chicago, as well as contacts in the government to ensure that our shipment will be safe from the embargo. There will be a fair amount of red tape involved, but we'll work our way through it.