• Awarded on: April 20, 1999

Hanna Guderjan, Edmonton, Alta.
Governor General's Caring Canadian Award

Hanna Guderjan has been volunteering through her church and the missions since 1956. She began by making blankets and quilts, then clothes for children in developing countries. She embroidered pillow cases and crocheted afghans and slippers to sell to raise money. In 1984, she began to use her sewing talents to make dresses for girls of all ages, often using donated material. In order to buy additional cloth, she embroidered tablecloths and other items to sell at church bazaars. To date, Mrs. Guderjan has made more than 5,000 dresses for orphanages and churches in countries such as Tanzania, Brazil, India, Mexico, Romania, Rwanda and Kenya.