Dolls Carry Message of Hope

The hopes and dreams of African orphans with AIDS have inspired Hilltop High Sophomore Dakotah Flowers to design a unique fundraiser. For the last two years, Dakotah has decorated empty wine bottles with fabric, shawls and headdresses to reflect traditional African dolls. Except for the pins and buttons that adorn the dolls as earrings, everything is recycled.

Each doll also wears a small purse with a special message written by one of the 20 children living at an orphanage outside Cape Town, South Africa. Dakotah sells the dolls for $20 and send the proceeds to the orphanage. She's having a hard time keeping them in stock, though. She recently received the Cox Conserves Heroes Youth Award, which earned her $10,000 to give to a local environmental charity. Dakotah donated her award to the Chula Vista Nature Center.

"I'll be making the dolls for a long time time," Dakotah said. "I've grown to love these kids."

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Hilltop High 10th Grader Dakotah Flowers