By Casey Neill
Hills students joined forces with knitters from across the country to brighten the lives of children in Syria.
The Tecoma and Silvan primary schools were among several to support this year’s Australian Crafters Aid Network (ACAN) shipment to orphanages and refugee camps.
The annual clothing and toy donation started when a member of online knitting community Ravelry was working in the Middle East.
She saw children suffering in the cold, put the word out for help and Aussies Knitting for War Affected Kids (AKWAK) formed.
Marg Willis from Ferny Creek said the growing group relaunched with the new name after packing this year’s container at Tecoma Uniting Church in late August.
“We supply more than knitting, although that’s still our primary focus,” she said.
“We decided it needed a fresh new approach to streamline our processes to be able to cope with this massive growth.”
Jen O’Brien from Belgrave organised the school involvement.
Silvan students helped to stuff bears last year and this time around made their own toys.
Tecoma Primary students stuffed bears and gave each one a name.
They attached a card with the names of the bear, the knitter and themselves, and included a photo of themselves holding the bear.
Grade 6 students partnered with their Grade 1 buddies on the project.
Teacher and junior school council facilitator Lisa Hoskins-Faul said the older students spearheaded the project and learnt about the children they were helping.
“We’re looking forward to a long relationship with the project,” she said.
The Australian Syrian Association of Victoria fund-raises to pay for the container loaded with care packs of knitting to be shipped to Turkey.
It’s then transported to Syria and should arrive in time for the start of winter.
“Syrian winters are brutal and these children are usually living in tents,” Ms Willis said.
“Generally their only source of warmth is kerosene heaters so it is important to use natural fibres that will not melt if they come into contact with a flame.”
A self-described obsessive knitter, Ms O’Brien this year contributed 112 pairs of socks, 105 pairs of mittens, 24 bears, six pairs of booties, 11 jumpers and a hat.
She said knitting and packing the items brought together many knitters, older women in particular, who were otherwise isolated.
“This does at least as much for Australia as it does for Syria,” she said.
Jennifer travelled down from the New South Wales central coast with a car and caravan filled with knitted items.
Colleen made the trip over from Western Australia with 57 kilograms of donations in two large suitcases, a gym bag and a box.
“The camaraderie is a big part of it,” she said.
The group welcomes yarn donations. Search for AKWAK and ACAN online to get involved.
