Harambee Arts

Many of you remember Gloria Simoneaux who owned at The Reef for many years.  Gloria is the creator and guiding spirit of Harambee Arts, a San Francisco Woman of the Year, and tireless worker for people who have been thrown away by their communities.

The following is a fundraiser letter — but that’s not the reason it’s appearing in AkumalNow.  It’s here to show what can be done by one person.  Just one person.  Our  Gloria.

Please take a look at what Harambee Arts is doing in NAIROBI! We continue to work with children living in the Kibera slum, autistic children and those with other disabilities and HIV+ women prisoners. No one is turned away at the Saturday program in Kibera. Even the young babies are invited. That is what we do. NUMBERS OF CHILDREN are growing and growing. Last week, we stopped counting at 220 in Kibera slum on Saturday. BEFORE PAINTING the special needs youth are encouraged to stretch, move and dance. Then they begin painting feeling more connected to their bodies and to the experience. We are in post-production on AMBASSADORS OF HOPE, a 16 minute film about Harambee Arts in Kenya, featuring the story of Samson (pictured below as a child). He has been a part of Harambee Arts for 15 years. We need to raise $15,000 to support current costs that include final editing, translations, planning for premier showings and submission to festivals. A donation of any amount will be greatly appreciated. Asante sana. CLICK HERE TO DONATE TO HARAMBEE ARTS THE FILM HARAMBEE ARTS sponsored a camping trip for a group of long term participants. This girl painted her experience, the first time in her life that she was able to live in nature, far from the chaos of the slum. The two youth are junior staff in training. DONATE NOW WOMEN PRISONERS PLAY AND LAUGH during our support group. For some hours they feel normal. We see them as capable and intelligent women, not criminals. Then they can begin to see themselves as whole and healthy. CHILDREN WITH AUTISM are shunned and ostracized in Kenya. We treat them the same as we treat all children, focusing on the beauty within each one. Our participants experience profound poverty, violence, incarceration, trafficking, illness and other crises. Thanks to your donation, individuals are empowered to become competent, ethical and socially responsible members of the community. WE THANK YOU! DONATE NOW WHAT YOUR DONATION PROVIDES… $50 pays for art supplies for 2 weeks for 200 children $70 pays for snacks for 2 weeks for girls in the safe house $100 pays one staff member’s stipend for two weeks of leading sessions $150 pays for art supplies for 2 weeks for 600 children $250 supports one staff member’s stipend for a month to lead sessions $500 supports two staff members to lead sessions for a month With deepest gratitude! Gloria Simoneaux (Founding Director) and thousands of joyful and grateful individuals since 2008 Find Us On Social:  ‌  ‌  ‌

Harambee Arts | PO Box 150156, San Rafael, CA 94915-1056 Unsubscribe [email protected]

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