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THE CLOTH AND THE MUD #46
SUMMER, 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
Continuing: Sales of FAF items continues Sundays at the Fulton Street Artisan’s
Market, Grand Rapids, MI. through September.
September 17: Fall Board Meeting:
November: Schuler Books and Music Days
December: Annual Anthony Salazar Fund Drive
NEWS FROM AFRICA
REORGANIZATION: Mercy Thuo reports that there will be changes in the operation of The Good Samaritan Children’s Home. Children’s homes and orphanages will have to adjust policies to be in compliance with government rulings. The official title of children’s welfare in Kenya will change to “Charitable Children’s Institutions,” ICC, affecting the governance, organizational structure, programs and physical structures. The Good Samaritan Children’s Home will have to move into compliance by 2030. Objectives of the ICC are scholarship for basic education and vocational training, basic needs, and medical care. These are the objectives for which GSCH can accept funds.
As a result, Mercy requested that our donations fall into these categories, as other donations can not be accepted. She was particularly worried about the tuition bill for $2500 that was going unpaid. FAF sent $500 out of the Anthony Salazar Fund and $400 out of general funds to help lower this bill and avoid having children stay home from school.
HUNGER AND AGRICULTURE: Christine Coggins, Sheba Onchiri and Laura Salazar attended the Midwest Summit on Africa at Michigan State University, East Lansing on June 26. A highlight was meeting the Kenyan Ambassador to the United States, Elkanah Odembo. When we mentioned that we worked with the Good Samaritan Children’s Home and Women Fighting AIDS in Kenya, Ambassador Odembo was pleased as he knows both organizations. We also met Kenyan Richard Mkandawire, Director of New Partnerships for African’s Development. He, too, was delighted to hear about our work. The day provided much more than schmoozing.
The central theme was changes needed in agriculture and hunger. Democracy, we heard, can not exhist on an empty stomach. Early in the meeting it became clear that Africa is moving to democracy and economic stability. Sixteen countries, including Kenya, held free and fair elections recently. Freedom of the press is increasing. Kenya has overhauled its constitution, instituting checks and balances. There is a growing middle class in Africa. The private sector is getting more interested in the economic development of countries. The free press, bloggers, whistle blowers and media spread more informed and possibilities. Africans engage in inter-African trade.
As to hunger and agriculture, Africa has 25% of the world’s arable land, but only 10% of the world’s lands is in cultivation. Farmers there most often are women working on a small plot of land. The green revolution needs to come to Africa. But there are dangers. We heard about the United States’ prior practices of pushing technical, biological and mechanical “progress” that does not fit with the soil, climate, and terrain of Africa.
The United States needs to approach our contacts with Africa as relationships rather than projects. Much of the discussion helped us see how we can adjust our work to meet the changing Africa.
HOPE: Nicholas D. Kristof continues his brilliant and heartfelt reports on Africa in The New York Times. The “Sunday Review” July 3, 2011 provided three full pages of story and pictures of what he saw in his annual journey with two scholars who had never been to Africa before. He states that the three of them saw hope. “One of the best-kept secrets in the world today can be found in thatched-roof villages like the ones we pass through: Africa appears to be turning around.” Six of the ten fastest growing economies in the last ten years are in Africa. Child mortality is dropping in the developing world. In 1990, 12.4 million children died before age of 5 each year. Now that number has dropped to 8.1 million, according to the World Health Organization. Four million lives saved per year makes a huge difference. Controlling malaria and HIV seems a possibility now, whereas they were only a dream in 2001.
Technology makes a huge difference in Africa through solar panels, road improvement, motorcycles, and especially cell phones. Cell phones help people market goods, buy fertilizer cheaply, save and transfer money, and find jobs. A villager told Kristof that cell phones are more important than toilets.
LOVE: Mercy Thuo loaned Sheba Onchiri two DVD’s of life at The Good Samaritan Children’s Home which she copied and brought back to the States. I wish that they could be seen by each of you. It struck me that a large group of toddlers now live at the orphanage. When FAF began its work, the population of the orphanage was mostly school-age children. Now there are probably 25 very young children who live there. Many of these babies have been abandoned at the door step of the orphanage or were brought there after the political riots in 2008. When I commented on how I saw these vulnerable little ones, Sheba assured me that Mercy is a saint with them, giving them each attention and love. “Oh Laura,” she said, if only you could feel the love and atmosphere in the home, you would know that none of these babies are neglected.”
Another interesting part of the DVD is a tour of the barn. Although I didn’t count the number of cows, I would estimate herd to be about fifteen . Teenagers are seen caring for the cows, and most importantly, cleaning out after them. There is a tour of the pig pens, too. We have heard from the children about the pigs when Amy Tetzlaff ran her pen pal project and from the children’s drawings. If you are interested in the DVD, I will see what the cost of the reproduction and mailing would be.
THE CLOTH
ART: You still have a few more weeks to see the mask exhibit at the Michigan State University Museum. The exhibit includes masks from around the world, but the emphasis is on Africa, including an extraordinary DVD on mask, family competition, imagination and ritual in an African village.
Women volunteers at the Good Samaritan Children’s Home make items to sell: purses, necklaces, bracelets, etc. Sheba Onchiri brought a large bundle to FAF which you can see and buy at the Fulton Street Art Market on Sundays.
REPORT FROM THE ANNUAL BOARD MEETING
JUNE 5, 2011: Patricia Callan and Betsy Knox were re-elected to their offices of Vice President and Secretary. Honorary members elected for 2011-2012 are Kathy Villagomez and Niki Vettel. Membership is stable with informal chapters in California, Florida and Michigan.
Financially this has been the best year for FAF, with $10,000 sent to Kenya. Our partnership with Global Giving has not only raised considerable money for the organization, but upgraded our efficiency as a 501 (c) (3) organization. Sales of crafts continue to fall, but garage sales have provided considerable revenue. How can we continue the momentum?
Issues discussed include the growing need at The Good Samaritan Children’s Home and the lessening need at Women Fighting AIDS in Kenya. President Coggins will appoint a committee to do long-range planning with emphasis on this issue. How would supporting the GSCH impact the organization’s mission and its very title.
Coggins will also appoint a committee to develop a budget for 2011-12.
Salazar will look to ways to bring in new board members. She will also see how to make the newsletter more attractive without raising its cost.
OOPS
Typos in last newsletter:Hilary Stratford, not Hillary. Iris Szanto, not Santo
DONATIONS & SALES
The May Garage Sale was a huge success, raising $361.00. Thanks so much for all of the hard work, Jill Hamilton and Kiri Salazar.
To Date, we have raised $5750 for tuition, and $290 for shoes through Global Giving. In May #6163, $164.43 was donated. In June # 6163--$70.00 and #7377—30.00 was donated. On June 15, FAF earned $31.00 bonus dollars. All donations on that day earned 1/3 of the donated amount. Thanks.
Sales at the Fulton Street Artisans’ Market has been $100.00 to date.
AUGUST 1—MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL FOR 2011-12
Dear FAF Members and Friends,
It’s a new year for FAF on August 1, our thirteenth. Since 1999 you have sent close to $70,000 to Kenya. Thousands of widows and children in that country have been fed, clothed, schooled and tenderly cared for because of your interest and support. Long-time member Rev. Jean McDonald-Walker wrote about her giving, “I felt the money was going for such an important cause.”
Yes, it is membership time again. Prices are up; incomes are down; the need is as great as ever, maybe greater with the continuing unrest in countries adjacent to Kenya.
There is good news. We are doing a great job, sending $10,000 to Kenya last year, connecting with MSU’s African Studies Program, and adding Dr. Onchiri to our board. These things have lifted us to new levels of efficiency and growth.
None of these things, however, can help us with our day to day expenses. Only you and your membership can pay our ever-rising postage, printing and fees. Due to careful spending, membership remains at $20.00 for an individual and $30.00.
Please join us for the 2011-2012 year, and encourage others to be a part of this important project. As Nicholas Kristof has noted: There is hope.
Laura and the Board of Fabulous African Fabrics
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
NAME_________________________________________________
PHONE ________________________________________________
ADDRESS____________________________________________________________________________________________________
e-mail ________________________________________________
PREFERRED METHOD OF RECEIVING NEWSLETTER: Web ________
e-mail _____________ US Mail _________
*It helps us keep records if you fill out this form and return it with your check.
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
NAME_________________________________________________
PHONE ________________________________________________
ADDRESS____________________________________________________________________________________________________
e-mail ________________________________________________
PREFERRED METHOD OF RECEIVING NEWSLETTER: Web ________
e-mail _____________ US Mail _________
*It helps us keep records if you fill out this form and return it with your check.
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