Mountfield blind group knits teddies for African kids

The Mountfield club for the blind and partially-sighted members have been busy making the toys for children in Malawi – the poorest country in the world.

Some of the bears have bells especially for blind and visually-impaired children to enjoy, and each one has a unique design for the blind people to learn.

Sally Bickersteth, who delivers the teddies as part of her regular visits to help schools in Malawi, said it is a win-win situation.

“These children have nothing, no toys at all, only toys they have made like worn out tyres made into footballs or old bottle tops used to play games,” she said.

“So these little bears are really special to them as each of the bears have a different pattern which the blind people learn and is then sown up, but they are made totally differently so each child has a unique one.

“It’s such a touching thing to do so when I go out there I take the bears to them and I see them carry them around on their backs like their mothers do.”

Sally, from Northiam, works with local charity Starfish Malawi and has been working with a school called Chitiwiri in Salima since 2008, running projects to continue the children’s education.

A wife of one of the blind club’s members heard about Sally’s work and asked the group to make bears for the children as they often do charitable projects.

Margaret Smith, from the blind club, said: “It’s really nice because sometimes if you lose your sight you feel like you can’t do anything anymore bit it shows people can do something really useful and help others.”

Sally plans to next visit Malawi in April and will take dozens of bears with her for the children to enjoy, and plans to record the kids singing to thank the group for the gifts.

This will be the second batch the group has made and Sally said it will be an ongoing project as it benefits both parties so much.

“I’m so touched that they make these bears, they make so many and it’s really touching to see these children get the bears,” she said.

“I’m looking forward to giving them the bears as it gives me great pleasure.”

The blind club meets every Thursday at the village hall from 10.30am to 3pm with members from across Rother. New members are always welcome.

For more information, call Margaret on 01424 774158.

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