The students in Dr. Susanne Green’s English Composition
class at Fairleigh Dickinson University-Vancouver are learning about more than
the craft of persuasive writing, they are also learning to crochet for a cause.
The “crochet touché” program developed with the help of Green’s class
and the Student Government Association at FDU-V. The aim is for the students to
crochet caps for orphans at the Blue Sky Healing Home in Beijing.
The Blue Sky Healing Home is a private medical foster home that has taken in
orphans and children from poor families, as well as providing urgent medical
care and surgeries for children.
“I have a friend who volunteered last summer at the orphanage,” said
Green.
“When I was telling her about the students at FDU-V and how creative and
civic-minded they were, we talked about writing letters to the orphanage, or
better yet, creating something for each child there receiving care,” she
said.
Green says that crocheting connects to the writing aspect of the class by a
deliberate and precise interweaving of a solid foundation.
“I see an inherent connection between the craft and comfort of writing and
the craft and comfort of crochet,” she said.
“Both must be precise and audience aware.”
Student Filip Krol came up with the name and logo and started recruiting other
students into the program.
“Clothing always makes a difference for a person who needs it and it is
easy and inexpensive to crochet,” said the 23-year-old Krol, who is studying
business management at FDU-V.
Currently, there are 18 orphans at the Blue Sky Healing Home
and each will receive caps in the school’s signature colours of navy blue and
burgundy.
The crochet touché group will be holding a yarn drive in
hopes of receiving donations, yarn in those colours, and size-8 crochet hooks
so they can continue the project.
“The overall goal of this student-driven project
is to capitalize on the spirit, talent and enthusiasm of students hailing from
many countries while they pursue both a BA in business management and a budding
career in social entrepreneurialism,” said Green.
