Model Red Cross lorry
Production date
1995
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Details
Description
Model Red Cross lorry made from cooking oil tins in Angola in 1995.
The model was collected and donated by Deborah White, a British Red Cross delegate for the International Committee of the Red Cross, working as a field nurse during the Angolan Civil War.
This Red Cross lorry was crafted in local workshops by Angolan children, using mainly food aid tins. It was made from using beer caps for the wheels, the “Red Cross” flag created by using a stick as a pole, to drawing minor features such as the number plate, and the children who made it achieved great accuracy.
The level of detail used in this Red Cross lorry, and the materials that were used, immediately captured my attention. Afterwards, I began to read about this period in Angola during the Civil War which lasted for 27 years. This was important in my choice of the object, because I wanted to pay tribute to the children who made the lorry.
Audio Recording by Alba Cuevas (Volunteer), Edinburgh.
...................................................................
This is a model of a Red Cross relief lorry. It is hand made from cooking oil tins, received from the Red Cross, by children during the Angolan civil war. As well as a tin body it features a Red Cross flag attached via a wooden pole and bottle tops for wheels. It was made in 1995 and was given to Deborah White who was a British Red Cross Delegate for the International Committee of the Red Cross, working in Angola as a field nurse at the time.
The Civil War began in 1975 once Angola had gained its independence from Portugal. A power struggle ignited conflict in the country. The war finally ended in 2002. During this time over 1.9 million people faced famine and approximately 1 million people were displaced. Lasting legacies of the conflict can be found in the active landmines scattered throughout the country. Organisations are working hard today to remove these and to make rural Angola safe again.
The detail on this model is remarkable, this isn’t a crude replica, so the effort, and in my opinion, love that was poured into its creation is very apparent. It’s powerful because it wasn’t made by skilled craftsmen but by children in the midst of a war spanning 27 years. The fact they used anything to hand is apparent in its endearing bottle top wheels. I can only imagine how Deborah must have felt being gifted a treasure like this during such difficult times.
The Audio Recording by Anna Townsend (Volunteer), Birmingham is available here: https://soundcloud.com/user-494965/model-red-cross-lorry-made-from-cooking-oil-tins-by-children-in-angola
The model was collected and donated by Deborah White, a British Red Cross delegate for the International Committee of the Red Cross, working as a field nurse during the Angolan Civil War.
This Red Cross lorry was crafted in local workshops by Angolan children, using mainly food aid tins. It was made from using beer caps for the wheels, the “Red Cross” flag created by using a stick as a pole, to drawing minor features such as the number plate, and the children who made it achieved great accuracy.
The level of detail used in this Red Cross lorry, and the materials that were used, immediately captured my attention. Afterwards, I began to read about this period in Angola during the Civil War which lasted for 27 years. This was important in my choice of the object, because I wanted to pay tribute to the children who made the lorry.
Audio Recording by Alba Cuevas (Volunteer), Edinburgh.
...................................................................
This is a model of a Red Cross relief lorry. It is hand made from cooking oil tins, received from the Red Cross, by children during the Angolan civil war. As well as a tin body it features a Red Cross flag attached via a wooden pole and bottle tops for wheels. It was made in 1995 and was given to Deborah White who was a British Red Cross Delegate for the International Committee of the Red Cross, working in Angola as a field nurse at the time.
The Civil War began in 1975 once Angola had gained its independence from Portugal. A power struggle ignited conflict in the country. The war finally ended in 2002. During this time over 1.9 million people faced famine and approximately 1 million people were displaced. Lasting legacies of the conflict can be found in the active landmines scattered throughout the country. Organisations are working hard today to remove these and to make rural Angola safe again.
The detail on this model is remarkable, this isn’t a crude replica, so the effort, and in my opinion, love that was poured into its creation is very apparent. It’s powerful because it wasn’t made by skilled craftsmen but by children in the midst of a war spanning 27 years. The fact they used anything to hand is apparent in its endearing bottle top wheels. I can only imagine how Deborah must have felt being gifted a treasure like this during such difficult times.
The Audio Recording by Anna Townsend (Volunteer), Birmingham is available here: https://soundcloud.com/user-494965/model-red-cross-lorry-made-from-cooking-oil-tins-by-children-in-angola
Collection Type
Objects
Production Place
History
Model was given to Deborah White, a British Red Cross delegate for the ICRC, working as a field nurse in Angola.
Catalogue Number
1572/3
Associated Person and Role
International Committee of the Red Cross
Associated Place
Associated Person
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Object Types
Place Made
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