Fashion Design teacher Emily Munn and her students are making dresses for disadvanteged young girls in Africa and other continents. They are sending the dresses through a non-profit Christian organization titled Little Dresses for Africa (LDFA). The organization will then send the dresses to girls throughout the continent of Africa and beyond.

The LFDA was created in 2008 by Rachel O’Neill. The organization provides relief to vulnerable children around the globe, with an emphasis on Africa.

“It’s dresses made from fabric, like pillowcases,” junior Victoria Willis said. “It [also] has some elastic in it for the shoulder part.”

The reason for the usage of pillowcases over other materials is that they are readily available, they already have a hem and side seams in them and they are simple enough for even a novice at sewing could sew them. Also, brightly colored dresses are perfect for the African climate.

“First, I had to get a pillowcase and I had to think of some idea of how I wanted to design it and how I wanted it to look,” senior Madison Browning said. “So, I wanted to stick with the lighter colors because that’s more of a childish kind of thing. I put sequins along the bottom and I put two light pink bows on the shoulders. I also made a pocket out of yarn and I wrapped some yarn around the dress at the bottom.”

The goal of the dresses is to change lives by planting in the hearts of these girls that they are worthy. Along with the pillow case dresses, the LDFA is also working towards providing clean water, education and a community meeting place for communities in need.

“Once we send them off to the company in Michigan, they will send them to the underdeveloped countries,” Munn said. “All the girls love making them cause they feel like they’re actually helping kids in underdeveloped countries. It just makes them feel good”.

Fashion Design has completed the dresses, and they hope that the dresses will ship in early December. Hopefully, Munn and her students will impact lives with their effort.

“We feel we have a part in helping a child’s life,” Munn said.