Krochet Kids originally started as a way for friends Travis Hartanov and Kohl Crecelius to help raise money for their high school prom. The friends conceived a plan to learn crocheting and start making and selling beanies as a way to raise the money they needed to fund their prom. Little did they know that their small idea would grow to become an international non-profit organization providing great economic opportunities to impoverished families in Africa.

From Vision to Reality

During the summer before the friends freshman year at Whitworth College the three of them went on a mission trip to the Dominican Republic. Seeing the extreme poverty that the Dominicans were living in on a daily basis the three decided to do something to help make a change. Out of their desire for change Krochet Kids was born.

What is Krochet Kids?

Krochet Kids is a non-profit organization that teaches women of impoverished countries how to crochet beanies which the group then turns around and sells to fund the organization. The entire idea is breathtakingly selfless. Not only do the women get a salary for making the beanies but the organization then takes the profits made from selling the beanies and reinvests it back into the very villages in which the beanies are produced.

The Groups Focus Turns to Africa

Although their journey started in the Dominican, Krochet Kids main philanthropic focus is in Uganda Africa.The three friends are committed to not only producing a quality product but also helping to pull African families out of poverty in the process.

Hartanov states that “we kept hearing a lot of our family and friends saying things like ‘this is a great idea’ and ‘you really should pursue this’”. After fund raising for an entire year the trio picked a group of ten friends to travel to Uganda to teach a number of African women to crochet beanies. At first they were worried about how quickly the women would pick up crocheting however after only one day the women were crocheting like pros.

Tangible Results That Make a Real Difference

These women now are employed full time from crochet kids and each women crochets a maximum of three hats per day, a comfortable pace according to Hartanov. In total Krochet Kids now produces 150 beanies per month.

Being a Christian organization Hartanov says they “want to not only provide them with physical work but spiritual development as well”. Hartanov goes on to state that their passion is combining business and mission work together. A noble pairing according to Sir Austin!

The group has plans of ultimately putting the entire operation in the hands of the African women and having them run it all. This will enable Krochet Kids to move on to the next tribe and repeat the same process. When Sir Austin first read about the group he could not wait to tell all his readers about the exciting work that Krochet Kids is doing. Also Sir Austin wants to encourage all beanie wearers and friends of beanie wearers out there to make sure and stock up on the beanies that are krocheting hope for African families!

Stock up on Your Beanies Today!

To visit the Krochet Kids online store click here