MSF, Somalia and p/hop raffle

Somalia and its neighbouring countries are in the grips of the worst famine in over 50 years. While tens of thousands of people are suffering from malnutrition, homelessness and lose of their way of life, I have been thinking about what I can do to help. Part of me wants to jump on a plane, go there and help, do whatever I can to solve the problem, but I'm not a weather god, I can't bring rain to a drought ridden country. I can't stop militia groups from using this terrible situation for their own ends. I am inspired though, by the work done by Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors without Borders) and their commitment regardless of race, religion, gender or political affiliation. They are there in the camps trying to help and do what is needed.

But they need funds to do this.

I'm a practical person and like to find practical solutions to problems and I'm also someone who is not bothered about getting their hands dirty but I cannot go out there and help and with since I am currently unemployed I don't have a great deal of money to donate. But I do have time and I have yarn and I can knit and I can used these skills to do what I can. There is a great organisation called pennies per hour of pleasure or p/hop who have supported MSF for the past few years. It's a great idea. They provide patterns for you to knit for free, you then knit the pattern and donate an amount for the hours of pleasure the pattern has given you. Isn't that fab?

But I want to do more than that. I want you to get involved too. I have downloaded the Trinty Shawlette pattern by Anniken Allis and am currently knitting a bright red version and a rich blue version. These are then going to be raffled (separately) to help raise money. All you need to do is make a donation here for a minimum of £3 (GB) or $5 (US) and send me the receipt to glamgirlknits@gmail.com as well as leaving a comment here saying which version you'd like. The comment here will generate a number that will be entered into the draw.

The deadline for entry will be Sunday 7th August 2001 at 12 noon BST

I'll make the draw via a random number generator on Sunday and announce the winner here and on Twitter. Since this is an international situation, I am holding an international raffle so will post anywhere in the world.

The red version is soft acrylic since not everyone can wear wool which will be steam blocked so that it holds the pattern. The blue version is 100% alpaca.

I've made a start and will be updating my progress every week here and on Twitter