African Mom with Baby Dolls

Sister Leishman Behind the Doll Shop Sign

Sister Gloria Ferguson is the of wife Area Welfare Manager. Like all of the expatriate wives, she loves the people here and gets very involved in helping them. Among other things, her husband, Ike, is responsible for nuturing programs to improve employment and employability of members. This includes efforts to start businesses. Gloria took the initiative in an effort that was outside the formal program. She saw dolls coming from Togo that were popular with tourists. She knew some women in the Church that needed employment and had capability to manufacture the dolls. Gloria guided them through learning how to make the dolls, including strict quality control, and helped them get a business started.

Veronica and Beauty braiding doll hair	Using flame to 'finish' the hair

A Pile of Work in Progress

Demand has been strong this summer, so the manufacturing has expanded to ten women working regularly. All the humanitarian service visitors want to take home this beautiful souvenir of West Africa. Some missionaries have ordered enough for all their granddaughters, including an assumption about how many more might be born in the future.

Sewing on Baby's Hair	Sewing on Mom's Hair

Margaret with a Finished Doll Margaret is the business owner. She is Bishop Sadahem's wife.	Advertising in a Stroller Who can resist this?

The Doll Business Employees

These are the women who produce the beautiful African dolls.
From left: Margaret, Sarah, Joyce, Florence, Dinah, Beauty, Veronica,
Pearl, Bernice, and Sarah

These are what the fuss is all about.
And from this view, you can't even see the babies tied on the backs.