Nobody knows the value of a good doll better than Jandrisevits. "Dolls have a power we don't completely understand," she said. It's a conclusion she came to while working as a social worker using dolls to help her young clients adapt to their changing medical situations. Many of the kids saw themselves in those dolls. But for the kids missing a limb or who had lost their hair, there were none they could relate to.
So, seven years ago, when a friend revealed that her child was stuck in self-doubt and self-distrust, Jandrisevits, now 49, knew what might help the youth through this potentially challenging period. "It's hard to tell a kid, 'You are perfect the way you are,' and to build self-esteem (自尊) that way, but never offer them anything that looks like them," she says.
Jandrisevits went about changing that. She crafted a doll by hand-using fabric, stitching, and markers — that resembled (像) her friend's child and sent it off. After the friend posted a photo online of the happy child and doll, another woman asked Jandrisevits to make a doll that looked like her baby, who was missing a leg.
Word spread, and soon Jandrisevits was making dolls for children with scars, birthmarks, facial deformities(畸形), — in short, a doll that looked like them. She quit her job and started a nonprofit, A Doll Like Me.
Working out of her home in Milwaukee, from photos sent by parents or caregivers, it takes Jandrisevits roughly three days to craft only one doll. A GoFundMe page helps her cover costs and allows her to donate her services. She hasn't charged for a doll since she began her nonprofit.
In all, she's made more than 400 dolls. The waiting list is long, but Jandriscvits will never give up. As she explains on her GoFundMe page, "Every kid, regardless of gender, ethnicity, age, medical issue, or body type, should look into the sweet face of a doll and see their own."
Master Gardener Volunteers Wanted
Why Become a Master Gardener?
The Master Gardener program is an all-volunteer organization where you can develop your own leadership and teaching skills while teaching the younger youth about healthy eating, agriculture, and so on! Master Gardeners involve people in activities to improve their general well-being and overall enjoyment of life by helping them find sound management practices for home and urban natural resources, by creating pleasing environments through people-plant interactions and horticultural therapy (园艺疗法), and by contributing to a safe, abundant food supply through home fruit and vegetable production.
What Qualifications Must You Meet?
Anyone can apply to be a Master Gardener—you don't need to be an expert or have a degree. You do, however, need to:
●Have certain experience or know a little about gardening or landscape management.
●Be willing to share horticulture information with others.
●Be willing to attend a training program and can devote time to volunteering and continuing education.
Besides, to become a Master Gardener volunteer, each applicant needs to complete an application, prepare background screening paperwork and schedule an interview with Extension staff.
What Does the Training Involve?
Training sessions are offered one day a week over a three-month period and are led by expert educators in the region. Approximately 60 hours of classroom instruction and field study and 60 hours of volunteer internship (实习) work are required to complete the program and become certified. In order to remain a certified Master Gardener, 30 hours of volunteer work and 10 hours of continuing education or advanced training are required each year.
