The concept of paper prayers originates from an ancient Japanese custom of offering painted strips of paper as prayers for healing the sick.Paper Prayers involves both rural and urban communities in all ine provinces in South Africa. The main objective of the National Paper Prayers Campaign is to promote AIDS awareness and facilitate a culture of healing and positive living through the processes of art and craft. The embroidered designs on Paper Prayers products are developed from drawings done by women in various Paper Prayers embroidery groups. Due to a lack of funding, Paper Prayers has functioned primarily as an income-generation project for the past two years. We feel that Paper Prayers has the potential to make a valuable contribution to the fight against HIV / AIDS through creative Paper Prayers workshops and the development of positive imagery that records the stories of people infected or affected by the disease. Paper Prayers aims promote understanding that seeks to reduce fear and intolerance. Paper prayer embroidery weaves together the arts, culture, technological innovation and education. It is a multi - faceted initiative which workshops art, papermaking and other AIDS awareness events, which are presented around the country.
It is hoped that the skills transfer programmes will lead to long-term capacity building in communities. The National Paper Prayers Campaign creates a supportive environment in which people gain awareness of HIV / AIDS, produce an artistic gesture of compassion and healing in each paper prayer, and learn useful skills towards financial empowerment. Using visual arts training, cultural programmes and papermaking technology, the campaign has involved thousands of people in a spirit of giving and healing and offering support for those affected by HIV / AIDS.
In addition to creating small works of art, each workshop has an HIV / AIDS awareness and training component, which the participants internalise and express in their paper prayers. This initiative has begun to have an important impact on a national level. By its nature, this project involves people to the extent that they can see their participation and contribution as part of the solution.
In 2003 and 2004, The National Paper Prayers Campaign has focused on capacity building with the groups it supports and on developing saleable products for income generation, particularly with the rural and urban embroidery groups with whom we work.
Mapula (Winterveld) women embroidering “true stories”
Activities in 2003 - 2004:
• A workshop on the creation of felt - storybooks in Winterveld was facilitated by Ikageng participant, Kgaogelo Mogamedi, in June.
• In July, Daniel Stompie Selibi and Kgaogelo Mogamedi facilitated a workshop to primary school facilitators on HIV in schools and Paper Prayers activities in the classroom.
• Links with the Men as Partners have been forged. They have run two workshops with the second-year learners at the Artist Proof Studio, dealing with issues related to gender differences, cultural stereotypes, relationships and HIV/ AIDS.
• Two workshops on HIV and STI’s were facilitated by Bart Cox in September. We have another workshop planned for October, to include the third-years, first - years and the women from the Ikageng group.
• An exhibition of Paper Prayers embroidered cloths for the AIDS conference in Durban 2003 continues to travel worldwide.
Paper Prayers works with a number of groups, although the current lack of funding has inhibited our development programmes with rural partners and other provinces.
Chivurika Embroidery Project, Giyani – Northern Province
This project, supported by Jameson and Josephine Maluleke, has about 25 women who work in the group embroidering their own designs as well as those of Paper Prayers. In 2003, Paper Prayers arranged for Frieda Le Grange to visit the group and work on their basic business and administrative skills.
Paper Prayers is able to generate orders and income opportunities through our relationship with Jameson Maluleke. Chivurika Embroidery Project is one of the first groups to work with Paper Prayers. A portion of the funds raised through the sale of their embroideries has been donated by the group to the Mphambo AIDS Action Campaign - a group of HIV / AIDS activists who live in the village and have received training in counseling and home-based care.
Winterveld Embroidery Project, Winterveld– North - West Province
This group has been working with Paper Prayers for many years. Product development and embroidery skills have been taught and Winterveld has produced many orders and products for Paper Prayers. The money raised through a portion of sales has been donated by the group to the Tumelong Hospice. Following two visits by Paper Prayers in 2004, the group has asked for further training in products and HIV/AIDS counseling. We hope to be able to fundraise for expanding and developing our work with the group.
Women of Winterveld
Paper prayers partners______________________________________________________Top
Paper Prayers has partnered with a number of organisations offering HIV / AIDS awareness and training programmes: CARE, CARE Income Group (joint venture between Paper Prayers and CARE [whom Paper Prayers has a longstanding relationship with] facilitate product development, sales and generate orders for income generating projects, whilst simultaneously transferring skills beneficially to both groups financially). CARE (offers HIV / AIDS awareness, training programmes and support groups for HIV positive members of the community)
Other groups include the Chivurika Embroidery Project, Giyani (Northern Province), the Winterveld Embroidery Project, Winterveld (North - West Province), the Ikageng Embroidery Group (Newtown, Jhb), NAPWA, AIDSLINK, The Mphambo AIDS ACTION CAMPAIGN in Elim, Venda and the HIV Journal of Medicine to name a few.
Mapula Project and Winterveld Embroidery Project, Winterveld– North - West Province
This group has been working with Paper Prayers for many years. Product development and embroidery skills have been taught and Winterveld has produced many orders and products for Paper Prayers. The money raised through a portion of sales has been donated by the group to the Tumelong Hospice. Following two visits by Paper Prayers in 2004, the group has asked for further training in products and HIV / AIDS counseling. We hope to be able to fundraise for expanding and developing our work with the group.
Women of Winterveld
Chivurika Embroidery Project, Giyani – Northern Province
This project, supported by Jameson and Josephine Maluleke, has about 25 women who work in the group embroidering their own designs as well as those of Paper Prayers. In 2003, Paper Prayers arranged for Frieda Le Grange to visit the group and work on their basic business and administrative skills.
Paper Prayers is able to generate orders and income opportunities through our relationship with Jameson Maluleke. Chivurika Embroidery Project is one of the first groups to work with Paper Prayers. A portion of the funds raised through the sale of their embroideries has been donated by the group to the Mphambo AIDS Action Campaign - a group of HIV / AIDS activists who live in the village and have received training in cousnseling and home - based care.
CARE , Yeoville – Johannesburg, Gauteng
Paper Prayers has a longstanding relationship with CARE. CARE is an organisation that provides local hospitals, clinics and communities with home based caregivers, counselors and support groups for HIV positive members of the community. The people who facilitate these processes are mostly volunteers who have been trained by professional psychologists and professional care givers. CARE participants meet every Wednesday to discuss product development, sales and generate orders for income-generation projects. Paper Prayers has provided the Yeoville group with skills and product development training. At the outset of our partnership it was agreed that, due to the lack of funds, CARE and Paper Prayers would transfer skills to one another, as this would be beneficial to both groups financially.
Care Income Group Giraffes
Ikageng Embroidery Group, Newtown – Johannesburg, Gauteng
This group has undergone embroidery and beadwork training through the CICI initiative. Frieda Le Grange from the National Crafts Council of South Africa and Shannin Antonopoulo, from Artist Proof Studio, initially trained individual members in design and product development. Recently, they have started their own group at the Bus Factory and have been taken under the wing of the Crafts Council and Paper Prayers, where they meet three times a week for training and product development and production. Our aim is to help this group develop its own constitution and facilitate further development in capacity building and skills enhancement.
|
