30 years and 620 bears later, Amnesty member’s project is stronger than ever

Joan Francis, Amnesty member for over 30 years

In the late 1970s, long-time Amnesty International member Joan Francis was shown a teddy-bear knitting pattern by a friend.

Joan immediately had an idea: she would knit a teddy bear and sell it to raise money for Amnesty’s Urgent Action Network. Joan sold the bear for $5 and the money paid for a telegram response to an Urgent Action appeal.

The first bear’s name was Wallis “He was a peculiar-looking bear,” Joan said. “I forgot to make his body, and simply attached his legs to his head!”

More bears followed – Darcy, Turtle, Tulip, Pansy, Hamish, Jasper. Over the past 27 years, two bears have been created every month for a total of 620. Attached to the arm of every one is a handwritten tag that reads:

“Hello! My name is Toby (or Misha or Chico) and I support Amnesty International”.

Joan Francis is now 93 years old, and still knitting teddy bears to support Amnesty International’s work. The cost of all the materials over the years must have been considerable, but Joan has always made it a matter of principle to donate 100% of the money raised. “If I were to take money, then the whole project has no meaning for me,” she said.

Joan has inspired other bear makers at the Sisters of St John the Divine in Toronto to join her project. To date, their 1,195 bears have provided over $9,000 to support Amnesty’s work.