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THE CLOTH AND THE MUD #44
WINTER 2011
NEWS FROM FABULOUS AFRICAN FABRICS
A 501 (c) (3) ORGANIZATION
727-946-5322,
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and www.fabulousafricanfabrics.org Laura Salazar, editor
Our Mission: to support agencies working with AIDS widows and orphans in Africa and to educate others about the AIDS crisis in Africa.
COMING EVENTS:
March 12 GARAGE SALE
4255 Paramount Blvd, Lakewood, CA
To donate items, call 727-946-5322
March GLOBAL GIVING BONUS DAY
Donate this day (to be announced) and Global Giving will provide
matching funds. Watch for announcements.
NEWS FROM AFRICA
A Picture is Worth a 1000 Words, and this is was never more true than in the video that appeared on Kenya’s Citizen TV a week ago. To see it go to which YouTube clip http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8RCETWwQGT4 In the video you can see many of the issues found at The Good Samaritan Children’s Home and many of the things being done right. There are some surprises. It appears that many more babies and toddlers live at the home than there have lived there in the past. The home is extremely crowded, with small children again sleeping on the floor. In 2008 Rotary International partnered with FAF saw to it that there were beds and mosquito nets for all. Five to ten new children are brought to the home every day, so conditions have changed. On the good side, children are being held, fed, and bathed. Kids are going to school, playing games and eating healthful food. A committee from the Dept. of Child Welfare appears on the clip but does not speak.. It is mentioned that because of overcrowding 120 children were being relocated to other orphanages around the country. See for yourself what is going on at the home that we have supported for 12 years.
From Mercy Thuo on December 30: We are glad to receive your mail. We are waiting to take new form ones to school come February 2011. Mostly we take them to boarding schools. This is an episode which requires more money because of buying personal effects, beddings’g, mattresses, transport, stationery etc. They had good performance on their national examinations. God bless you. Lots of Love, Mercy and Staff.
FAF is now posting short messages on our Global Giving Web Site as we get news. To access these go to our website: Project 6163. Click on the picture, and you will get information about how our money raising projects are going as well as further information about Fabulous African Fabrics.
FUNDS SENT TO AFRICA
Fall Quarter: $6161
2010: $9161
This is the most FAF has raised for our agencies in its 11 year history.
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL WHO MADE THIS HAPPEN!
In addition to the money raised on Global Giving this quarter, we received approximately $400 from the Artists’ Attic Sale in Dunedin, FL and Jubilee in Spokane, WA. Thanks Betsy Kenas, Phyllis McKinley and Shirley James in Florida and Dian Zahner in Washington state.
GLOBAL GIVING UPDATE
Amount raised from this initiative to date: $5161
This amount has gone for tuition, and does not include the 15% Global Giving requires for maintaining our website, offering help with fund raising and encouraging our growth as an organization. This 15% is deducted when a person makes a donation. The donor also has the option to add 15% to the donation to cover the expenses.
New Global Giving Site:
In light of her trip to visit the Good Samaritan Children’s Home,
Sheba Onchiri, our Kenyan advisor and Michigan State University Ph.D.
Student, is preparing a new FAF project on Global Giving that will be
devoted to raising funds for children’s school uniforms. The items will
be less expensive than tuition, so we can ask for a modest donation.
Sheba will be in charge of the website and the appeal for funds. We
hope that this project will bring in new members, students and others
who want to help but can not make the large donations we ask for in our
tuition and Anthony Salazar Fund appeals. You will know the instant we get the site up and running.
Volunteers
Global Giving provides a place where we can appeal for people to
volunteer to help our organization. To date we have had one volunteer,
Shanelle King. We have great hopes and plans for her work with FAF.
You can now choose to make an automatic monthly donation on line through
Global Giving. See Project 6163
FAF & Global Giving United Kingdom
FAF has long had members in other countries: Dani Lyndersay in
Trinidad and Tobago, and Beth Potter in Canada. Now Global Giving
has moved FAF further into the international scene.
FAF’s appeal for money for high school tuition for Kenyan orphans is
now a part of GGUK. To look at this site go to
donate on this site, and the government will pitch in an additional small
percentage. See more exciting international news below.
OUR UK CONNECTION
Hilary and Paul Stratford, friends of the Salazars from Herefordshire, England, have raised a substantial amount of money for FAF for a the last two years. To recognize these contributions, FAF named them honorary members for 2010. Now retired, Hilary has blessed us with a more substantial commitment to Fabulous African Fabrics.
In November she wrote that she would like to give talks to various Women’s Institute groups in her county (with a speakers’ fee going to FAF), to encourage women to sew and make items to sell in the UK. She and Paul will continue to sell items at her church’s annual Lenten Luncheon. She can do all of this through GGUK and stop worrying about sending money to the US, and changing currency and all that entails . We send a big thank you to Hilary and Paul and a wish for the best of luck in their endeavors.
THE CLOTH
African Frocks: Speaking of our Canadian connection, Beth Potter sent us an article about Canadian fashion designers and their runway designs using African textiles. You might be able to see the charming picture she sent if you e-mail the Toronto Star, and go to the October 22, 2010 publication, “From Market to Model Moment.” Proceeds for the designs will go to HIV/AIDS orphans in Africa through the Stephen Lewis Foundation.
New Supplier: As you can tell, I have been on line during my winter in California. Not willing to let the devil get to my idle fingers, I ordered some African textiles from Fabric Indulgence and Art Supply and was most pleased with the quality of the cloth. I have been making car storage bags, baby hats. It’s looking good for Art Market in GR this summer--Laura
NATIONAL AIDS DAY
33 million are now living with AIDS. Half of them die by age 35.
Truvada is new drug to prevent HIV/AIDS. It lowers the incidence of the disease 70% if taken daily. Condoms are 98% effective. This type of prevention may be the wave of the future in the fight against AIDS.
Students heckled President Obama at Yale University for not following up on his campaign pledge to spend $50 Billion on HIV/AIDS in 5 years. New York Times, Dec 1, 2010
ORGANIZATIONAL NEWS
We offer our sympathy to President Christine Coggins on the death of her Father, Roland Coggins in November. Roland Coggins was a farmer, published poet and a missionary in Africa, introducing Christine to Kenya and Tanzania.
One of the perks of being part of Global Giving is the interest they take in developing partner organizations. In an article they circulated to partners, Nicholas Kristof praised local, small indigenous organizations such as The Good Samaritan Home. FAF continues on the right track.
DONATIONS
Gifts in Honor: Lisa Gildemontes, and Kathy Villagomez
Gifts in Memory: Roland Coggins, and Gardner Pierce
Donation of African Textiles from Rev. Laurie Haller
JOIN OR RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP
The membership fees for FAF go to our organizational expenses: office supplies, postage, and materials to make items for sale. Your dollars prevent
worry about the small stuff so FAF can concentrate on our mission: to improve the lives of children and widows of AIDS in Kenya.
INDIVIDUAL MEMBERSHIP--$20.00, FAMILY MEMBERSHIP--$30.00
SEND THIS FORM AND YOUR CHECK TO
FABULOUS AFRICAN FABRICS, 1158 KENSINGTON ST. NW, GRAND RAPIDS, MI 49534
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