Female Inmates Create Teddy Bears for Children Affected by Tragedy

Inmates at the Newfoundland and Labrador Correctional Centre for Women continue to make positive contributions to society that now stretch all the way to South America. Their most recent project is Teddies for Tragedies which makes life a little brighter for children as far away as Peru by providing teddy bears to those who have experienced tragedies such as natural disasters, famine and other traumas.
 
“We are very proud of the contributions being made to the Teddies for Tragedies program by staff and inmates at the Newfoundland and Labrador Correctional Centre for Women,” said the Honourable Darin King, Minister of Justice. “The commitment and diligence of those participating in the program has genuinely benefited all involved, particularly the children who have received a teddy bear as a special gift.”
 
Over the past several months, inmates at the correctional centre have been busy creating small teddy bears with the oversight of staff and the assistance of Sister Alicia Linehan of the Sisters of Mercy. Those participating in the program have expressed great pleasure in having the opportunity to share the results of their work with children who have been affected by tragedy.
 
Some of the bears have made their way to Peru through the Sisters of Mercy who work there. Participants in the program have received photos and words of thanks from the children who have benefitted.
 
“Since 1985, the Teddies for Tragedies project has led to hundreds of thousands of teddy bears being knitted around the world and given to charities and volunteers to distribute to children,” said Minister King. “Inmates and staff at the Newfoundland and Labrador Correctional Centre for Women are now participating in this international initiative with great success, and I am glad that the program will continue to bring smiles to children in the future.”
 
More information on the Teddies for Tragedies program can be found by visiting www.teddiesfortragedies.org.uk .

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Photo: Handmade bears from inmates at the Newfoundland and Labrador Correctional Centre for Women for the Teddies for Tragedies project.

Photo: Children in Peru with the bears made by inmates at the Newfoundland and Labrador Correction Centre as part of the Teddies for Tragedies project.

Media contact:
Luke Joyce
Director of Communications
Department of Justice
709-729-6985, 725-4165
lukejoyce@gov.nl.ca

2013 06 07                              11:35 a.m.