(^28) Winter 2019
Quilts for Empowerment
We learned about Quilts
for Empowerment from
designer Lori DeJarnatt of
Humble Quilts. Lori wrote
a blog post about this
amazing organization in
July: humblequilts.blogspot.
com/2019/07/quilts-for-
empowerment.html.
The mission of Quilts for
Empowerment is to teach
quilting to impoverished
women in Kenya, including
obstetric fistula survivors,
and to support young sexual
assault survivors. QFE’s goals are to provide these women with skills and self-
confidence to become economically independent, and to assist the girls to complete
their education. The program is based on the principle of respecting the dignity and
inherent worth of all participants and team members.
The program got its start in October 2015, when Mary Ann McCammon, a retired
nurse and quilter from Oregon, went to Eldoret, Kenya, with a bag full of quilting
notions and embroidery floss. She wanted to teach obstetric fistula survivors how
to make quilts, so they could achieve economic independence. Fistula Foundation
(fistulafoundation.org) put her in contact with survivors who had been treated at
the Gynocare Fistula Center in Eldoret. She quickly learned that none of the women
had ever hand sewn, drawn a picture, or with few exceptions, could use a treadle
sewing machine. First, the women learned to hand stitch around motifs. Next, they
made simple landscape quilts. Finally, they learned simple embroidery stitches to
tell their “stories” through stitched images they often drew out on paper first. They
also started to make table runner and mat sets, showcasing beautiful African fabric
and incorporating hand stitching around the motifs. They decided to include hand
stitching in all of their products.
In 2016, Mary Ann returned to develop a business plan to make products that could
be sold in the US, including table mat sets. They hired a Production Supervisor and
Production Coordinator. In 2017, they had the honor of completing a commissioned
quilt for Fistula Foundation. The quilt included hand-stitched images from the stories
of 35 fistula survivors. Each square included the woman’s name and her wishes for
the future. The women began making large art quilts incorporating new embroidery
stitches, appliqué, and more of their unique embroidered motifs. It dawned on Mary
Ann that these art quilts were similar to the famous quilts of Gees Bend in that all the
Obstetric Fistula is usually
caused by a childbirth
injury that leaves women
leaking urine and/or stool
uncontrollably. It can also
happen as a result of rape.
The cause of fistula during
childbirth is the result of
several days of labor without
access to medical care. The
constant pressure of being in
labor creates the fistula (hole)
to the bladder or rectum, or
both. Many women labor
for three or more days at
home, then walk or take
a motorbike to find health
care and eventually have a
caesarean section to remove
the baby. Sadly, 90% of the
babies are born dead. The
only treatment is surgical
repair to close the fistula.
If untreated, women are
shunned by their families
and villages because of
the smell. Their husbands
abandon them, often forcing
them to live alone, ashamed,
and destitute. Because their
babies are usually stillborn,
they may be considered
“hexed” and unable to return
to their village for fear of
causing other stillborn babies.
We want to hear about your charitable efforts. Send your
information to Judy at [email protected].
Charitab le Causes
frankie
(Frankie)
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