23 Jul Solidarity Bunting – Craftivism for Kids
Are you searching for fun ideas to keep kids occupied? – we have a craft project with a difference.
We think that parents and kids will really enjoy this fun and inexpensive diy bunting project, which also gets kids thinking about how they can be in solidarity with people to improve our world.
This is our first craftivism (craft + activism) kit especially for children, to encourage them to think about what the word solidarity means, and how they can stand in solidarity with people to improve our world.
The Solidarity Bunting project was first introduced as a workshop at Also Festival in 2015, and was enjoyed by 50 children (7 years old up), who all fell silent as they worked on their stitching and writing – much to the amazement of their parents.
Due to popular demand it is now available to buy as a kit, allowing children from seven years old and upwards to make their own bunting, with their parents or guardians or in groups e.g. at school or after school clubs.
The kit includes questions for both child and adult to reflect on as they work on their bunting, to encourage the new craftivists to think about or discuss ways they can show solidarity for everyone from a child being bullied at school to the farmers who grow the bananas they might eat for breakfast.
The finished bunting can then be used as a necklace or belt, displayed in their bedroom or on the fridge at home as a reminder, or even put up at school or in a public place to encourage others to think about what solidarity means.
Why Choose the word Solidarity?
We chose the word ‘Solidarity’ as it’s quite a big, important word that not all young children will have come across before. As adults it’s often not a word we use much too.
Solidarity means – unity or agreement of feeling or action, especially among individuals with a common interest; mutual support within a group.
Donating money or resources can be vital for urgent relief, but we also need activism to help create long term change. Solidarity is often more difficult to do than sympathy, but if we want real lasting change then we also need to work alongside people directly affected by injustices to help change structures, systems or societal habits that are causing these injustices.
When you see a bully taking money from another child, you don’t just give the kid money to replace what was taken, you stand alongside him or her and figure out a solution together. That might be standing up for the victim and asking the bully to stop stealing, or it might be finding a teacher and saying, ‘This kid is being bullied, please help.’
For banana farmers, being in solidarity with them might be buying fairtrade bananas that guarantee a fair price for their work and a pension. It’s about putting yourself in other people’s shoes – the victims, the perpetrators and everyone involved – and finding out where you can help solve the problem with dignity for everyone involved.
You can also discuss global solidarity as you stitch. How can we support vulnerable people around the world through individual and group actions and through the daily choices we make. Do our choices affect people who are thousands of miles away? How? It helps gently nudge us to empathise with vulnerable people and think about how we would want people to be in solidarity to help relieve us from poverty or injustice in a dignified way.
The activity spreads the message of solidarity and both you and your children will hopefully think a little more deeply about injustice as well as the daily choices you make as you create the bunting. You have time to discuss the issues as you stitch and also time to think quietly together. Empathy is an important skill for children, this project is a great way to unlock understanding not only of how to empathise, but also how to take action that can make a change to a situation.
What to talk about?
Perhaps you could discuss fashion? Ask children if they know who made the clothes they are wearing – not many children will have ever considered that an actual human being made their t-shirts or trainers. Older children could be asked about the cost – some items of clothing cost just a few pounds, how is that possible – how long would it take to make something like that? Are we showing solidarity with clothes makers when we buy the clothes they made by providing them with jobs or are we harming them by supporting an industry where garment workers are not paid a fair wage and work in poor conditions. How could we find out together who makes the clothes and where?
Or maybe you could discuss where food that you buy in the supermarket comes from, did it come from very far away on a plane? Is it a good idea to buy food that travels thousands of miles – does this harm the world in any way? What are the alternatives – but what if you want to eat strawberries and tangerines at Christmas time? Talking about fair-trade bananas and the farmers that grow them is a great way to show solidarity because your money doesn’t just pay for the bananas but also helps the farmers have enough money to live comfortably, gives them a pension and strengthens the local community and their cooperative business.
Or maybe you could talk about energy and water usage? Who makes electricity? Does everyone have access to clean water like they do?
The idea is to open minds and get kids (and adults!) to ask questions, so try to answer honestly and if you don’t know the answers find them out together. You want the children to feel empowered that they CAN make a difference through THEIR actions – not to end the tutorial feeling ‘sorry for the poor people’ or overwhelmed by climate change.
Growing up in Everton we had people with great intentions who wanted to just give the children in our area shoes. I also saw the same happening in Ghana and Kenya when I worked there for Christian Aid and the UK Department for International Development.
Parent’s felt embarrassed taking the shoes, children where bullied in school for having second hand shoes and it did not ask the question why families couldn’t afford their own shoes. What was needed in Everton was structures to help people gain employment, better education and a living wage amongst other things. In Kenya healthcare and education needed to improve so that families could sustain themselves and international trade needed to be more fair.
“If you have come here to help me, you are wasting your time. But if you have come because your liberation is bound up with mine, then let us work together.”
Lilla Watson, a Brisbane-based Aboriginal activist and organiser, spoke these words to the social workers and community developers who approached her community, she gave direction to those of us who would join with people living in poverty.
If we truly want the world to be more beautiful, kind and just, we need to change structures and behaviours at the core of harming people and the planet.
This is why activism and campaigning are so important for long term change. Charity is very much needed for emergency relief and quick responses but charity did not give women the vote in the UK, end apartheid in South Africa and it does not stop a bully from taking your lunch money as a child.
Learn more about our method of activism and see how you can get involved – find out more about Craftivism
Craftivism for kids (7 years+)
£12.00
Are you searching for fun ideas to keep kids occupied? – we have a craft project with a difference.
The perfect creative challenge for tomorrow’s changemakers. Parental/adult guidance recommended, open mindedness a must.
Care-givers and kids will really enjoy this fun and inexpensive diy bunting project, which not only teaches children what solidarity means but also how we can all, regardless of our age, practice being the change we wish to see in the world standing together and standing up for each other in times of trouble and pain. Wear the bunting, hand it somewhere at home or leave it out in public. Let the little changemaker decide 🙂
Sourced and made ethically in the UK by me (Sarah) in my little apartment normally whilst listening to talks online before I pop them in the post to you…
All profits go to help sustain and grow the collective’s activities to engage people in craftivism and support people to be the change they wish to see in the world. Win win!:)
More information on his project here
21 in stock
Description
This project is an educational and empowering form of activism for the maker: encouraging us to remember to be in solidarity with those effected directly by harm and injustice. Carefully write solidarity on your bunting flats and sew together to hang somewhere to remind us all to be part of the change we wish to see in the world, standing up for and along side those suffering. Adult supervision help needed.
What’s inside:
- Upcycled cotton triangles in various colours and patterns
- Embroidery thread
- Needle
- Detailed instructions
- Crafter-thought questions to reflect on and discuss whilst stitching
- Tips to be an effective craftivist
- Craftivist Collective label
- plus 2 free little gifts for you x
Use with courage and care
Sourced and made ethically in the UK by me (Sarah) in my little apartment normally whilst listening to talks online before I pop them in the post to you…
All profits go to help sustain and grow the collective’s activities to engage people in craftivism and support people to be the change they wish to see in the world. Win win!:)x
Additional information
| Shipping Policy | Items will be shipped within 3 business days. |
|---|---|
| Returns Policy | You can return your unwanted items for refund, please ensure they are returned within 15 days of delivery. |
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If you have found this project helpful please do $upport us to exist so we can continue to support you & other craftivists. We are a small struggling social enterprise with no external funding x
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