Calling all Mumsknitters - would you like to help Oxfam raise awareness of maternal mortality

[carriemumsnet]

I posted this on Site stuff, but it was suggested we post it here too...

As part of the Health and Education For All campaign, Oxfam have launched an appeal for knitted squares to create a giant baby blanket, with each square knitted representing a mother who did not survive pregnancy or childbirth to be able to care for her baby, because she couldn't access the medical care she needed.

Oxfam are aiming to get 250,000 squares by September, which is the number of mothers who could have been saved in that time if decent healthcare had been available.

They need knitters to make 9 inch squares for the giant blanket, which will be handed into the Government as a sort of 'patchwork against poverty petition', to demand a world where everyone has access to free basic healthcare.

We were just wondered if all you Mumsknitters would be interested in teaming up with Oxfam to help out.

Ideally we'd need some folks to volunteer as Local/regional coordinators - who could appeal on their local sites for knitters, maybe organise a local knit -in/meet-up, wouldn't mind being contacted by non mumsnetter oxfam supporters to coordinate collection of squares

And then we just need folks who wouldn't mind unravelling an old sweater and knitting some squares (they're v keen on folks recycling old knitted stuff).

In May they're planning on holding Knit-ins at local MP's offices - so they're also looking for folks happy to teach their MP how to knit while talking about the issue of maternal mortality and hopefully picking up some local media coverage.

Basically it's not about raising money but raising awareness.

Let us know what you think/if you would be interested in helping out.

Thanks

MNHQ

Dear knitters

On Wednesday 17 September, we?ll be presenting part of the giant knitted petition to Sarah Brown at 11 Downing Street, and displaying the rest of the 40m long mammoth baby blanket in the Lawrence Hall.

We want to say THANK YOU to the amazing people who have been busily knitting and teaching people to knit to raise awareness and campaign for change. Your squares will put pressure on world leaders to turn this crazy situation around by providing aid money that can be spent funding midwives, doctors and medicines.

And we want to INVITE you to come down and celebrate the inspiring result of your collective labour of love and meet with fellow knitters.

Where: The Lawrence Hall. Royal Horticultural Halls & Conference Centre in the heart of Westminster (Greycoat Street, London, SW1P 2QD - nearest underground stations: St James? Park / Victoria / Westminster)‎www.horticultural-halls.co.uk‎

When: Wednesday 17 September : 2pm ? 5pm

We look forward to seeing you, your friends and family there!

Hi all

Just a quick update on all this. We were invited by Oxfam to Downing street to collect Sarah Brown's square (which was sewn in on the spot), and show a section of the blanket and talk to her about the campaign.

She knew all about Mumsnet and was incredibly knowledgeable about the subject of maternal mortality in the third world (she's patron of the White Ribbon Alliance) and very hopeful that it was one of the millenium goals that might actually be achievable, so that was really encouraging.

There are some pics here

I took my youngest Mimi (as didn't have childcare) so she's the one swigging milk from a sippy cup to ward off the mother of all tantrums

Oxfam were so grateful to everyone on Mumsnet who had helped with this, and asked me to pass on a huge thank you. They are going to keep us updated on progress and let's hope we can have a part in stopping a woman dying in childbirth every 60 seconds

Thanks all

Oh brilliant, thanks for the link! I've seen photos on ravelry but not seen any that I could share with non-ravelers.

Fab pics. Shame they didn't get the amount of squares they were after though.

A huge thank you to all knitters!

For the last six months, knitters from towns, cities and villages from around the UK have been tirelessly clicking their needles, making knitted squares for our giant, knitted petition, and demanding decent healthcare for mums in poor countries.

We?d like to say a huge, heartfelt thank you to everyone who took part in the campaign. You helped keep the pressure on in the run up to the United Nations Millennium Development Goals Summit, and subsequently world leaders announced a raft of measures to tackle maternal mortality.

Find out how your campaigning helped make a difference by going here: www.oxfam.org.uk/applications/blogs/campaigners/2008/10/14000_squares_2000_letters_and.html

You helped put the issue of maternal mortality at the top of the agenda at the UN meetings, and if the promises of money and action confirmed in New York are delivered, it will help save the lives of 10 million mothers and newborn babies over the next 7 years.

We?ve been simply overwhelmed by your enthusiasm for the campaign - more than 14,000 knitted patches were made by knitters in every nook and cranny of the UK - and so we?ll be in touch again with the next few months to let you know how you can keep clicking your needles against poverty.

Hi everyone,

I wanted to say thanks to everyone who supported Oxfam?s maternal mortality campaign by knitting a square. I?ve taken over from Sarah and Josephine for the time being on this campaign and wanted to say hi to all of you who have helped so much!

But I need your help and enthusiasm once more, for the next part of the campaign?
We have over 14,000 squares from knitters all over the UK and beyond and we want to sew these together into big blankets so they can be displayed in each region of the UK and raise more awareness of the issue of maternal mortality, especially in the run up to International Women's Day in March.

I was wondering if there was anyone who would like to help out with this? If you?re part of a knitting group that would be interested in sewing together a bunch of these squares please get in touch! [email protected]

It would be great if as many people as possible wanted to help out ? there are an awful lots of squares!!

Alice