Northampton midwife creates ethnic minority dolls to start an important conversation

A local midwife has taken it upon herself to help start an important conversation.

Inspired by the Black Lives Matter protests in response to the death of George Floyd, Deborah De Brauw, who works as a midwife at Northampton General Hospital, has started making ethnic minority dolls dressed in full personal protective equipment (PPE).

The 58-year-old, who says she did not have black dolls when she was younger, now wants to inspire conversations that will help to enforce change.

Deborah said: “If we want to change things, you have to change them at the grass root level and that means having conversations with young children.

“It’s good to have dolls in professional settings too and it’s good for children to have that subliminal messaging, especially during coronavirus with NHS heroes.

“It’s an important thing as well that people talk about having role models, as I didn’t see black role models when I was younger.

"Hopefully the dolls will generate conversations between each other and their teachers about current issues and things that really matter."

Every doll that Deborah makes is given a name and has its own story. The first one is called Hope and is a mixed race nurse

According to Deborah, the dolls that are 18 inches tall, take a couple of weeks to complete, but are enjoyable to make.

She added: “I learnt to knit a few years ago and I love it. I’m always knitting.

“They are fairly complicated but they are fun to make.

“I have three different shades of brown and the dolls all have different hair.

“They are wearing exactly what we wear, so scrubs and masks and even the headbands with buttons on.”

Since Deborah made the first doll the ‘Dolls for Change’ campaign has really taken off.

Deborah has set up a fundraiser to raise money for the Black Lives Matter movement in America.

She even has schools lined up to home the 20 dolls that are planned, as well as companies ready to sponsor them.

“When I did the first one, everybody loved it. I have a daughter who is a teacher and she said it would be really good to use in school,” Deborah continued.

“The headteacher at her school also said it’s a great idea.

“The dolls give teachers a chance to talk about this and it gives children the chance to ask questions.

“I also set up a Facebook page for people to donate to. Within two days it had £650 on it.

“It’s gone crazy and there’s now a huge pile of work, but there are other midwives and friends who are on board and are helping.

"It would also be great if we could other knitters across the country to knit the dolls and donate to their own schools."

Deborah will now make one doll for every £90 that is raised. She says she might be knitting into retirement, but that she will get them finished. The dolls will then be given to local schools.

To find out more and to donate to the cause, visit Deborah’s Facebook fundraiser.

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