EmpowHER quilt, patch 35
Maker and role
Jess Knight: Artist
Production date
2021
See full details
Details
Description
Jess, who adorned her patch with the phrase 'love always wins', came up with the initial idea for the EmpowHER quilt. " I saw the Changi quilt and was so impressed because I really love community action. I was thinking about all the families, and most have passed, but I'm here staring at their quilt and thinking about what brought them together."
Many youth groups, working as part of the EmpowHER programme, designed patches to create a large quilt, much like the original. The empowering and positive messages on the quilt made Jess feel incredibly proud of the EmpowHER team. "What I wanted from EmpowHER was to inspire young women and girls, and they get it! They know they are worthy. It fills me with hope and pride that we had something to do with it because we really tried to role model and help them through the hard times."
"I hope that people will be inspired to work with young women and girls and [not] underestimate them... I hope it will open their eyes to this generation of women who want to take on the world and change things. The quilt is a really good way of bringing people together and showing how small actions can make a big difference."
Many youth groups, working as part of the EmpowHER programme, designed patches to create a large quilt, much like the original. The empowering and positive messages on the quilt made Jess feel incredibly proud of the EmpowHER team. "What I wanted from EmpowHER was to inspire young women and girls, and they get it! They know they are worthy. It fills me with hope and pride that we had something to do with it because we really tried to role model and help them through the hard times."
"I hope that people will be inspired to work with young women and girls and [not] underestimate them... I hope it will open their eyes to this generation of women who want to take on the world and change things. The quilt is a really good way of bringing people together and showing how small actions can make a big difference."
Collection Type
Objects
Production Place
History
Jess previously worked for local authorities in the West Midlands and the Alzheimer's Society before joining the British Red Cross as a Youth Engagement Worker. As a passionate feminist, she had long been keen to support young women and girls at what can be a complicated time in their lives. "It's such a difficult space when you're younger and going through puberty, but also just being a girl trying to navigate the world. Gender inequality is rife, so when I saw this, it was merging two things that I wanted to get more involved in."
There were many social action projects that Jess supported the young women and girls with, but one that really stood out to her was an Instagram account surrounding the topic of reproductive rights. "At the time, a state in the United States of America had just made abortion illegal. The group were horrified and wanted to remove the stigma around it. They put an Instagram page together and did a launch day, raised lots of money, and still post on it now."
During her time with the EmpowHER programme, Jess saw the girls' confidence grow rapidly. "I always talk about a girl who, when I first met her, wouldn't give me eye contact. She was so quiet... We created a safe space, and then she just began to flourish! She ended up leading on a project, came on a trip to Geneva, volunteered with us, and now she's got a youth work position."
There were many social action projects that Jess supported the young women and girls with, but one that really stood out to her was an Instagram account surrounding the topic of reproductive rights. "At the time, a state in the United States of America had just made abortion illegal. The group were horrified and wanted to remove the stigma around it. They put an Instagram page together and did a launch day, raised lots of money, and still post on it now."
During her time with the EmpowHER programme, Jess saw the girls' confidence grow rapidly. "I always talk about a girl who, when I first met her, wouldn't give me eye contact. She was so quiet... We created a safe space, and then she just began to flourish! She ended up leading on a project, came on a trip to Geneva, volunteered with us, and now she's got a youth work position."
Catalogue Number
3327.35
Associated Person and Role
EmpowHER Youth Engagement Worker: Jess Knight
Maker
Associated Person
Object Types
Place Made
Part of 1 highlight set
.jpg)
Share
All images are the property of the British Red Cross Museum and Archives (unless otherwise indicated), and cannot be used without permission. For queries about permission to use images, please contact enquiry@redcross.org.uk.
