Umbra Students Create Dolls for UNICEF
Throughout the semester, 12 Umbra students have been making Pigotta dolls at Perugia’s UNICEF headquarters, from putting the cotton in the cloth to designing and making the dolls’ clothes. Students committed two hours every Tuesday for five weeks to create their dolls and practice their Italian with the local Italian women heading the project.
At the last meeting, students put the finishing touches on their dolls and had a small party with the local volunteers. They also received certificates acknowledging their participation.
“When I was there [at the UNICEF office], I actually saw the videos and understood the capacity it has to make change in the world, and it was really rewarding,” said Clark University student Valerie Alexander. “To do that through making a doll and doing something that can make a difference in someone else’s life was really amazing.”
The Pigotta dolls will be on display on the second floor of the Umbra Institute through Wednesday, April 24. Students and faculty have the opportunity to adopt a doll for 20€, which provides a vaccination kit for a mother and child in need in developing countries.
The Pigotta Project was started in Milan in 1988 and continues to support UNICEF’s immunization program.
To learn more about Umbra’s volunteering opportunities, click here.