Grandfather With Vitiligo Crochets Dolls For Children With The Same Condition

September 24, 2019

A grandfather in Brazil makes dolls that have vitiligo - a disease that causes the loss of skin color in blotches - to help children with the skin condition feel included.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by João Stanganelli Junior (@joaostanganelli) on

João Stanganelli, 64, recently retired and took up crocheting with his wife as a hobby. His first project was a doll for his granddaughter, something for her to always remember him by.

So he created a doll with vitiligo patches, and an idea was born.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by João Stanganelli Junior (@joaostanganelli) on

Now, he shares his designs on social media and has "many orders".

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by João Stanganelli Junior (@joaostanganelli) on

João believes his dolls are capable of spreading an important message.

"My view of vitiligo seems to me to be very different from the general, I think it is necessary first that you have vitiligo, after this acceptance you choose what you want to do."