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| Greetings, |
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NextAid's Nexus is here with updates from South Africa, Kenya, and the US. This month, we bring you another inspiring volunteer account, new partnerships, and even something for you to do this Friday evening!
Thank you for reading! |
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| Kawangware |
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 NextAid's Program Director, Wendy Cross recently visited Nairobi, Kenya to work with our newest community partner, the Kawangware Street Children and Youth Project. The visit included meetings with government officials, community leaders, and other NGO networks. NextAid donated a new laptop computer and digital camera to the project and Wendy has implemented capacity building training with the project management and youth to make effective use of these empowering tools. The Greenbelt Movement (Nobel Laureate Wangari Maathai's organization) has offered to affiliate with Kawangware and support their environmental and income generation programs. We continue to move forward in the land allocation process and are fundraising to build a new facility for this deserving group, in partnership with the GO Campaign. For more information, click here.
Wendy also visited the town of Nakuru (3 hours South of Nairobi) to spend time with another community organization, REPACTED, which uses youth magnet theater and performance to educate about HIV/AIDS. NextAid is assessing how we may be able to work with them in the future to support programs for vulnerable children. Wendy was fortunate to arrive in Kenya just in time for Obama's inauguration and experience the hopeful and celebratory mood shared by Kenyans to see their "brother" making history. |
| YWAV Children's House Completed! |
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 We are proud to announce the completion of our first Children's House and the fourteenth structure on site in Dennilton, South Africa. It is a beautiful 4-bedroom home made with locally produced bricks and is complete with a lounge, kitchen, patio, and bathroom featuring an enviro-loo compost toilet. We look forward to furnishing it and having the first group of children move in! We are also so excited to have just broken ground on our next building project, a residence for YWAV caretakers and foster children. The World AIDS Day events held in December helped to raise a good deal of funds but we have yet to reach our goal, so please make a donation today! |
| Stories from the Field: Volunteer Student Groups |
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 The Nexus continues its new monthly feature that will bring first-hand accounts from volunteers, staff or local community members who want to share experiences and insights from our Africa projects. To conserve space, only excerpts will be provided in the newsletter and full-text versions will be posted at www.nextaid.org
January was a busy month for hosting volunteers at the site of our children's village and community center in Dennilton. Thirty five students from Santa Monica City College spent two days of service with us as part of a month long study tour in communications and psychology. The college students were a tremendous help in painting, landscaping, and preparing a new garden space for planting. They were treated to some locally cooked lunches and performances by the youth. The following week Youth With A Vision received a visit from eight University of Wisconsin students who spent the day interviewing and conversing with YWAV members, youth and staff to get a better understanding of local culture and the context of HIV/AIDS programs. We welcome these volunteer groups from afar and see the cross-cultural engagement as a valuable program and enriching experience for all participants.
This month's student journal entry is written by Geneva Marshall:
Studying Abroad this summer in South Africa was a one of the most exciting and memorable moments of my life. During this trip I found that one of the most rewarding aspects involved meeting the people of Dennilton, a small town outside of Johannesburg. The people of Dennilton were a group of vibrant and inviting individuals that inspire me today.
When we arrived in Dennilton we originally came there to plant trees for the day and meet with the people, but in the end we got so much more. After planting the trees with the many children and having a quick lunch we then sat down in their theatre where we watched the children's performances. So many of the children put together dances, songs, and poems for us, even though we were just there for one day. Once they finished the performance and we were able to talk and play games, I realized that what these children needed and wanted most was a friend. After all of the volunteering I had done while abroad I realized that one of the most important things that you can give someone is your time and attention. These children were so excited to see us and to have us there that I never felt so comfortable with a group of people I had just met.
Leaving Dennilton was one of the hardest things that I ever had to do. I felt that I didn't do enough, that I planted trees and just left. But, in reality I know that spending a few hours with these children talking about everything from music to food, was as inspiring to me as it was to the children of Dennilton. I can honestly say that one of the most meaningful and memorable moments of my life took place on that one day in Dennilton, South Africa.
 The Long Beach State Students that visted Dennilton last summer have been fundraising toward the guest house. Help them raise money so that they can build it this summer! |
| Coalition for a Sustainable Africa Presents ZIMBABWE |
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 NextAid is a founding member of the Coalition for a Sustainable Africa and hopes that you will join us in their presentation of ZIMBABWE at the 17th Annual Pan African Film and Arts Festival (PAFF).
Friday, February 13th at 7pm
Culver Plaza Theater
9919 Washington Blvd.
Culver City, CA 90232
Tickets: $15
ZIMBABWE (South Africa/NF/84min/2008)
Directed by Darrell James Roodt (Sarafina!, Cry, the Beloved Country, Yesterday)
A young girl named Zimbabwe (Kudzai Chimbaira) finds that life gets even tougher in rural Zimbabwe after the death of her mother from an AIDS-related disease. Not only are she and her brother now orphaned, but she has her orphaned niece to look after and the village Chief tells her they must leave, that they can no longer support them.
Coalition for a Sustainable AfricaThe Coalition for a Sustainable Africa (CSAfrica) is a collaboration of over 14 Los Angeles based non-profit organizations, including NextAid, offering sustainable solutions for grass-roots initiatives to empower the people and communities of Africa. Collectively, we are currently working in nine countries with programs focused on children, health, economics, education, women's empowerment, and the environment. www.csafrica.org | |
