Patchwork wall hangings for a Refuge for women and children escaping domestic violence

Zonta Club Brisbane North Inc. participated in a local school’s Annual Festival providing information to raise awareness about domestic violence and to promote Zonta and our Club. To add some fun activity for a school audience we invited young people passing by to draw on fabric squares that could be made up into patchwork wall hangings to brighten up the walls at a local refuge for women and children escaping domestic violence. Our only instructions were to draw happy, positive and colourful images and we provided the fabric and colourful fabric crayons. 

Young people of all ages participated, most with great seriousness and detail. Some drew pictures of what makes them happy, others drew images they thought were happy, while others provided messages about being happy cartoon style.  

The patches have been put together with bright and cheerful bindings, the addition of some beads and buttons, and the refuge was most pleased to accept them just before Christmas. The social worker at the refuge loved the idea and asked if we could provide fabric squares and crayons for her to use in activities with their resident children over the school holidays. We will collect them when ready and make them up into some more patchwork hangings or panels for their use. Can’t wait to see what they produce!