Uthando Project Inc

16/10/2026

Many thanks to Julie D in Sydney for sending us 15 beautiful dolls. Here are just 4 of them.

09/10/2026

06/10/2026

https://kalamundaopenstudios.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/map-brochure-oct-2026-web.pdf

If you are in the Perth Hills area this weekend, you may be interested in the annual Spring Kalamunda Open Art Studio event.
Our co-founder Georgia Efford and her husband Peter Efford are two of the featured artists opening their beautiful studio home this year to offer paintings, drawings and collectable items including textiles and ceramics

Efford Studios is set in beautiful gardens, which many of our early doll makers will recall as the birthplace of Uthando Project. Georgia's paintings of the garden are the subject of a special book "A Garden in Gooseberry HIll"

Efford Studios is at 2 Healey Place, Gooseberry Hill and will be open as part of the Kalamunda Open Studios event this weekend:
Saturday 10th and Sunday 11 October 10am - 5pm. Parking is on Healey Place.

27/09/2026

Hello Uthando Project Dollmakers and Supporters,

We are pleased to let you all know that with kind assistance from the Foothills Mens Shed members the shipment was collected from our Headquarters in Forrestfield on Friday 25th September.

The confirmed tally of bags and doll numbers was as follows:

Total Bags: 85 Dolls: 3117 (including families of dolls)Animals: 307 Balls: 727 Kits: 600.

Thanks to everyone for your efforts in making this possible. So many of you contribute in different ways to make the dolls and get them to Perth Headquarters for shipping, work hard on the fundraising that pays the freight costs and support others to make the dolls, sharing ideas, patterns and materials as you are able. The sight of our Headquarters meeting room filled with bags packed with love and care, ready for the children, fills us with awe each time we ship.

Send a message to learn more

27/09/2026

Many thanks to the students and staff of Iona College for their continued support over so many years.

Uthando Dolls

This year, our students have made 152 beautiful Uthando dolls, which will be sent to children in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, through the Uthando Project. These handmade dolls will go into the loving arms of children affected by HIV/AIDS, providing them with a special gift made with care by our Iona community.

KwaZulu-Natal continues to be one of the provinces most affected by HIV in South Africa. In 2022, it had the second-highest HIV prevalence rate at 16% and the highest number of people living with HIV in the country, with an estimated 1,980,000 people.

What makes this project particularly special is the way our students have embraced it as a true community project. Dolls have been made at school and at home, with many students receiving help from their mums and grandmothers. This has created a wonderful opportunity for generations to come together while supporting children in need.

The project also enables our students to earn Iona Care hours, making it a wonderful example of service, compassion and community spirit. It really is a win-win project, with our students learning the value of giving, families working together, and children in KwaZulu-Natal receiving a handmade gift made with love.

18/09/2026

Busy day at Headquarters today writing labels and pinning to an estimated 88 shipping bags. The final number will be confirmed next week as we sort, line up and recount bags in a limited space. Fortunately the kettle was still accessible and someone had even brought cake!

13/09/2026

For third week in a row, Uthando friends have been busy fund raising. Thank you very much to Suzanne and Lynne J for their efforts at Destash market in Mundaring on weekend. Number of ladies donated materials and items from their own stashes at home (particularly Sheila) and made some items and dolls. Sales went well, and alot of interest and chatting about our Uthando Project. Books and pamphlets were in demand. A whopping $800 was made. And maybe we may welcome couple new dollmakers.
Thank you all who support our fund raising by helping out in so many ways. Real team effort.
Many thanks to Fleur at Hills Fabric and Craft De-Stash for your continued support of our Project.

So now it's rest time for sure....

07/09/2026

Many thanks to everyone who attended our Celebration of Childhood fundraising event on Saturday. It was a terrific turnout and saw $2219 raised, a very welcome contribution to the cost of shipping our dolls to vulnerable children in KwaZulu Natal.
We also wish to thank Softball WA for their generosity in offering their Headquarters building as a venue.