Harbour Light residents selling homemade kites
Staff and residents at a men’s addiction programme are selling homemade kites to raise money.
Men of the Harbour Light programme, with the help of staff and past members, have been hard at work building traditional Bermuda kites for purchase just before Easter.
Chandra Bascome, of Harbour Light, said that the group hopes to raise $2,500 with kite sales, with the funds going towards therapy initiatives.
She added: “There’s great anticipation. At first, like always, there was a bit of apprehension, but as time went on and they get to see their work and all the pretty colours around the room, it definitely caused a little bit of excitement in the house.
Ms Bascome said that the annual fundraiser started in the early 2000s, when the Salvation Army, which hosts the programme, had government funding cut.
She said that the staff and residents took matters into their own hands, creating kites and hosting kite-making workshops in time for Easter.
Ms Bascome added that it served dual duty as a form of “outdoor therapy”, which helped the men to find healthy hobbies or socialising opportunities to help them through their treatment.
She said: “Some men had never made a kite before, and some hadn’t made them in a very, very long time.
“But this had become something very therapeutic for them because they have to stand there and draw out their design, then they have to map out the tissue and patiently paste it.
“It’s been proven to be quite a bit of therapy for them. We even have clients who have completed Harbour Light but are still making kites — they come back and help our guys make the kites.”
Ms Bascome said that the group, which started making kites in February, has now made about 120 and an additional 50 for themselves.
She added that they have made kites and kite frames for groups such as the Bermuda Youth Library and the Mental Health Corps.
Ms Bascome said that the men were also excited to have a creative outlet and to show off what they could do.
She said: “I always tell them ‘don’t be afraid to make a kite, because the ugliest kite always gets sold first.’ ”
Ms Bascome added: “It does something for your personal pride and confidence.”
The kites will be available for purchase until the Thursday before Good Friday.
Each kite goes for $50 and can be bought at the Salvation Army’s King Street location.
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