VOICES FOR UMOJA

RAISING VOICES Art Benefit Event 2010

2010-10-05T19:07:00.000-07:00

The RAISING VOICES Art Benefit was a huge success! Thank you to all the artists and everyone who contributed to making this event so enjoyable and successful.

Fair trade products made by the Opuk Jakinda Cooperative in Kisumu, Kenya.

The lovely Christina Moses and Tiease Lee.

The Chiapas Project was present with their fair trade artisan products made by a network of women's cooperatives in Mexico.

Servicing Wildflowers International came with beautiful dolls in the most fashionable clothing and detailed Romanian painted eggs.

RAISING VOICES Art Benefit Event

2010-09-18T00:46:00.001-07:00

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 25th, 2010
1pm to 5pm
LA Daylight Studios
201 South Santa Fe Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90012

Join us for an exciting event showcasing artistic expression from all over the world, while supporting work with vulnerable communities in Africa. Voices for umoja is hosting an afternoon of food, drink, music, cool products, and good company as we come together to celebrate the connections that emerge from the process of creative expression.

2010 Raising Voices Benefit Art Show
An event to raise funds for Voices for umoja to support work with vulnerable populations in Africa will take place on Saturday, September 25th, at LA Daylight Studios in Downtown Los Angeles. The daytime event will include DJ, refreshments, auction, photography & art work, fair trade products for sale & good company. All in-kind and monetary donations are tax deductible.

Voices for umoja (umoja means unity in Swahili) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to using various forms of communication and action to create change at the community level and beyond. Voices for umoja strives to connect groups and individuals with the goal of strengthening our global community. Voices for umoja was started out of a project with a community-based organization called Abila Creative Center (now Abila Creative Arts) in Kisumu, Kenya that began in 2006. Kisumu, the third largest city in Kenya, is located in the Nyanza province, home of Barack Obama's grandmother and the area with the highest HIV rate in the country. Kisumu has high poverty and unemployment rates and very limited opportunities for economic advancement, especially following the violence that erupted in response to the last presidential election. Voices for umoja continues to work in close collaboration with Abila Creative Arts as well as other community-based organizations in Kenya.

For more information: please contact voicesforumoja@gmail.com

"Raising Voices" Art Donation Show Statement

Artists and photographers where asked on an open call to submit/donate small artworks. Under a short amount of time to collect artwork, the aim for this donation group show was to collect as many national and international artist to express the interconnectivity around artist communities and community creative sharing. By collecting works of art from artists around the world we intent to expose the greater dialogue of community in which we have brought together creative individuals and multiple communities to share their own creative, cultural, and demographic perspectives of artistry and artistic practice.

All proceeds will be raised for future funding for community projects in Africa by Voices for Umoja; and as well as in support of strengthening our global community and creative voices around the world.

Organized by Sara Feldman, Christina Moses, Alexis Hudgins, & Calvin Lee

Participating Artists and Photographers

- Pauline Adhiambo, Kisumu, Kenya
- Jeffrey Agono, Kisumu, Kenya
- Carrie Rebecca Armellino, Los Angeles, CA
- Tracy Von Becker, Montville, NJ
- Michelle Bonfils, Los Angeles, CA
- Jimmy James Canales, San Antonio, TX
- Forever Young Chung, Los Angeles, CA
- Diana Sofia Estrada, Los Angeles, CA
- Dennis Feldman, Los Angeles, CA
- Neal Feldman, Los Angeles, CA
- Sara Feldman, Los Angeles, CA
- Nacho Genzon, Los Angeles, CA
- Nicolas Grenier, Montreal, Canada / Los Angeles, CA
- Carl Gunhouse, Brooklyn, NY
- Alexis Hudgins, Los Angeles, CA
- Eric Kim, Los Angeles, CA
- Helen Kim, Los Angeles, CA
- Karolina Karlic, Los Angeles, CA
- Calvin Lee, Los Angeles, CA
- Sidonie Loiseleux, Los Angeles, CA
- C. Francisco Martinez, Los Angeles, CA
- Harry McGowan, Los Angeles, CA
- Lisa Miller, Los Angeles, CA
- Joanne Mitchell, Los Angeles, CA
- Kean O'Brien, Los Angeles, CA
- Amelia Opalinska, Landing, N
- Robert H. Ordonez, Forrest Hills, NY
- William Otieno, Kisumu, Kenya
- Gastave Oyani, Kisumu, Kenya
- Joseph Peila, Royal City, WA
- Jason Plunkett, Los Angeles, CA
- Marina Pinsky, Los Angeles, CA
- Trevor Powers, Boston, MA
- Lisa Paige Robinson, Los Angeles, CA
- Jason Underhill, Los Angeles, CA
- April Windsor, Los Angeles, CA
- Nic Yakhama, Kisumu, Kenya
- Silke Zeidler, Germany
MORE TO BE ANNOUNCED SOON...

2010-05-10T18:52:00.000-07:00

CSAfrica invites you to come celebrate the Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars new album release with a live show by the amazing artists themselves. Save the date and buy your tickets early for the show... Wednesday, May 12th at 8pm at the Roxy Theatre on the Sunset Strip.
Sierra Leone's Refugee All stars are six musicians who formed a band while in a refugee camp in the Republic of Guinea during Sierra Leone's civil war.

They created music to keep their hope strong and inspire the spirits of the thousands of other refugees suffering from having to flee from their villages and cities.

After a few years of touring the refugee camps, sharing their music, they returned to Sierra Leone after talks of peace had proved to be true. There they were able to fulfill their dream of recording an album.

Since then, they have performed all over the world spreading their message of peace and awareness for their country and the global community. They have performed with legendary artists such as Aerosmith and Angelique Kidjo.

They've known the horrors of war firsthand and have become ambassadors of peace. An unbelievable testament to the human spirit, the journey of Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars exemplifies the universal healing power of music.

http://www.refugeeallstars.org/about/about-the-band/

FREE DOWNLOAD: http://sierraleonesrefugeeallstars.bandcamp.com/track/free-download-living-stone

for TICKETS go to: http://www.theroxyonsunset.com

Festivities begin with the legendary booty shaking, feel the musics' soul in your bones, DJ Jeremy Sole of AfroFunke!
Then we get down to the inspiring uplifting afro, reggae, rhythm and blues, funk, soul of the Refugee All Stars.

Coalition for a Sustainable Africa (CSAfrica) is a collaboration of non-profit organizations offering sustainable solutions for grass-roots initiatives to empower the people and communities of Africa.
http://www.csafrica.org

CSAfrica Member organizations:
• Artists for New South Africa
• Art AIDS Art
• Earth Rights Institute
• Empowerment Works
• GAWA
• GO Campaign
• Hands For Africa
• Help a Life
• Lost Boys of Sudan
• NextAid
• OneWorld Works
• Open Arts
• PEP LA
• SWF International
• Save Africa’s Children
• The Niapele Project
• The Samburu Project
• Village Network Africa
• Voices for Umoja

See you there!

Voices' recent activity

2010-04-16T15:52:00.000-07:00

In an effort to support the Creative Peace Foundation's (http://creativepeacefoundation.org/) One Thousand Pairs of Jeans for Africa campaign and help them reach their goal, we at voices for umoja, sent out mass emails to friends and family and within week, were able to help them accomplish their intention. 1000 pairs of jeans were collected!!

Opuk Ja Kinda Cooperative and Abila

2010-04-13T15:51:00.000-07:00

Opuk Jakinda and Abila met today and will be taking a trip to the Art House to get inspiration for new designs. Here are some photos of their meeting.

Abila Youth Club members participate in film and photography training today!!

2010-04-07T14:44:00.000-07:00

The New Abila Youth Club....

2010-03-15T13:48:00.000-07:00

Well, we finished our first week in Kisumu!!

We met with the new Abila Youth Club and discussed their current
projects and hopes for the future. They are interested in avoiding
becoming idle, which can lead to high risk behavior, and they want to
find avenues to bring in some income. They are working on a production of an
original play about the post election violence by one of the members.
They have been writing and practicing some original songs that they
performed at the meeting. We will have a follow up meeting on
Wednesday.

Giving voice to street kids...the beginnings of a possible collaboration...

2010-03-15T13:41:00.000-07:00

We met with Pastor Johnson who works with street kids. He updated us on his project and we
discussed ways to collaborate. He also arranged for us to visit the
Kisumu Juvenile Remand Home, a place where children accused of crimes
are held while they await the resolution of their court proceedings
and where they put kids from the streets while they try to find their
families or other places for them to go.

Continuing ventures in fair trade self-sustaning micro-enterprise ventures...

2010-03-15T13:32:00.000-07:00

We met with Caroline Agwanda, who previously trained the Opuk Jakinda members in making jewelry, paper products and baskets from the water hyacinth plant, and
discussed the progress of her new project, HOPE, which trains disabled
women to make crafts. Caroline then sells these crafts at her store
and around. We will be creating a stronger partnership with Caroline
by working on marketing her goods alongside the Opuk Jakinda products.

First meeting this trip with Okok Widows Group...

2010-03-15T13:24:00.001-07:00

We met with Rose of the Okok Widows Group at her residence in the
rural area of Okok outside of Kisumu. Although the other members were
attending a funeral, she shared with us information about the products
they make. We will meet with the group again next week. We are taking the next and hopefully final steps in setting up distribution of fair trade avocado oil and other products made by the group with the American group Anti-Body.

What's new with VOICES....

2010-03-15T12:31:00.000-07:00

We are currently on safari with Nelson of the Oldarpoi Maasai Safari
Camp, a safari camp run by Maasai that invests a great deal of its
funds back into the community. We will be visiting their projects
tomorrow before returning to Nairobi.

Update on Opuk Ja Kinda

2010-02-17T14:36:00.000-08:00

Opuk Ja Kinda, a women's cooperative in the Kajulu region of Kisumu, Kenya, is comprised of women that are unskilled housewives with poor literacy levels, widows, single parents and orphaned youth.

The cooperative was created to provide an opportunity for the women who are economically and socially disenfranchised, to create viable and sustainable sources of income for personal and communal development.

Held at the Abila Creative Arts center, Voices sponsors capacity building trainings in crafts and jewelry making. As a result from the efforts and creativity of the cooperative, the women have generated a profit through the selling of their jewelry, enabling them to enroll a group of vulnerable and orphaned children in school.

This is a great accomplishment! And there is more to come!

Above are photos of some of the children enrolled in school!!

If you would like to purchase jewelry or make a contribution towards Opuk Ja Kinda please visit: www.voicesforumoja.com for more information.

Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars

2010-02-17T14:25:00.000-08:00

The Coalition for a Sustainable Africa and We Own TV present a special screening of the award winning documentary Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars followed by a Q&A with the film’s Director Banker White and Headlining Artist: Black Nature

Wednesday, February 17 at 7:30pm

$12 at the door

Pan-African Film Festival closing night
Culver Plaza Theaters

9919 Washington Blvd.

Culver City, CA
www.paff.org

ABOUT THE FILM
The film tells the remarkable and uplifting story of a group of six Sierra Leonean musicians who came together to form a band while living as refugees in the Republic of Guinea. A brutal civil war (1991-2002) forced them from their homes in Sierra Leone. Many of their family and friends were murdered in the violence, leaving them with physical and emotional scars that may never heal. Despite the unimaginable horrors of civil war, they were saved through their music. Through music they find a place of refuge, a sense of purpose and a source of power. The film follows the band over the course of three years as they make the difficult decision to return to their war-torn country and realize their dream of recording an album of their original music. For more info, go to www.refugeeallstars.org and www.weowntv.org

See you there!!

Emerging Voices - On the Topic of Wings

2009-11-06T18:57:00.001-08:00

I WISH I HAD WINGS by Pauline Adhiambo of Kisumu, Kenya

My soul is tightened with sorrows. I want to be safe.
The more I stay in this world the more my life becomes terrible.
I feel like going beyond the sun and staying forever.
But no one could take me there, where I can breathe.
I wish I had wings with me I could have fled away from the Earth.

My dreams had turned negative, all I had done had vanished
I had never thought of living in such situations.
Ooh my friends had gone against me, they never thought of helping me.
My enemies laugh at me, they enjoy life and forget about me
I wish I had wings with me, I could have fled away from the Earth.

People keeps on giving me empty promises, they say I will and never
They force me to do negative things and run away from me
Am always in problems because of my close friends
Peace and love is all I need, But all I get are opposite
I wish I had wings with me, I could have fled away from the Earth.

Day and night I come across temptations, but I had never gave up
Am longing to stay a lone where no one will see me
I had tried to forget my friends, but due to my love for them I can’t
The only thing I can think of, are the good times we had together
The solution is to safe away from this world
I wish I had wings with me, I could have fled away from the Earth.
Up!!Up I go high high, to the sky.

Emerging Voices - On the Topic of Subconscious/Unconscious

2009-11-05T23:55:00.000-08:00

More poetry written by a Kenyan artist for inclusion in The Microphone Sessions weekly artists development workshops. This one on the subject of Subconscious/Unconscious.

OH POOR HE AND SHE
by Dancan BAM Ochieng of Kisumu, Kenya

She was still watching them dance
The dancing girls were from France
Their dance vigor and full of romance
And then she stopped to make a glance
She was optimistic he had slept by chance

He had once opened the door at night
His face was bright, his arms were light
He was already playing with his white kite
Without cognition of the danger at night

He headed straight to swing plus his kite
Tonight the wind was not hissing nor teasing
Neither was she n’ her sis thinking of any kissing
He was not sneezing or thought to be wheezing
He was on her mother’s warm hands freezing
Devoid of consciousness he had done this thing

She said that this was inherited from his very dad
He got involved in a crime case that was very bad
How could he have murdered him without a damn
His lawyer proved that he was asleep at that time
Oh my God, unconscious actions are really a damn

Emerging Voices

2009-11-01T08:07:00.000-08:00

Voices for umoja is connecting Kenyan artists with artists in the U.S. through participation in The Microphone Sessions weekly artists' development workshops. Each week a topic is chosen for the next week. Participants are instructed to write or prepare a piece on topic for the following workshop. Topics have included TRUST, WIND, CONFESSION, HEALING, and SUBCONSCIOUS. We will be posting some of the Kenyan artists' work here.

On the topic of CONFESSION

CONFESSION!!!
By Oscar Constant of Kisumu, Kenya

Colorful event where we admit our mistakes
Open our heart to atone for our crimes
Noticing the important of confession
Forgetting after asking for forgiveness
Ending weird thoughts that lead to sinning
Sinning no more and being safe
Storage back of my body and heart to sanity
I then become free of huge burden
On what I did to make it all wrong
Now here I am a free man or woman

SO I CONFESS
By Pauline Adhiambo of Kisumu, Kenya

I know am a lost sheep in the wild
For I no longer graze in the compound
Of the church, I miss the congregation of our church
All the gossips of people who are prêt endings
Promiscuous couples and misappropriate church funds
I miss the night meditations where
We use to sneak girls in the dark
It does not feel right anymore
So I confess.

The last time I went to church
Our beloved pastor misappropriated all funds
Use the money to take his children for further studies abroad
He is a man of God so we delved not to speak
Lest we faced the wrath of the most High
Soon after a notice was released to the church
Any money less than one hundred shillings,
It would be no longer accepted as offerings
My conscience would not allow me
So I confess.

I was staunch member of the choir
Singing and rejoicing was my calling from God
Everybody has a partner in the rejoicing team
After practicing session we escorted each other in the dark
And deed everything that darkness could hide from the day
I got sick of it so I left
I know I need Gods forgiveness
So I confess.

I don’t want to be duped by thieves
Who pretend to be religious leaders?
I don’t want to give so much offering
That I cannot feed myself
I don’t want to gossip of the righteous and the unrighteous
And I don’t want to turn your holly
House to a brothel
God I don’t want to come to church
Because it will move me to do all these
And that will be a sin
So I confess.

Art Harvest LA - November 14, 2000

2009-10-06T23:11:00.000-07:00

4pm-10pm
November 14th, 2009
The Stephen Cohen Gallery
7358 Beverly Blvd.
Los Angeles 90036

Bringing together good food & libations, music, art & photography from emerging international and local artists

all to benefit local non-profit organizations' current grassroots projects working with refugee children and other vulnerable populations in Africa

The Niapele Project
and
Voices for Umoja

At the door:
$20 donation includes open bar, appetizers and 5 raffle tickets
$10 donation includes open bar and appetizers

Featuring:

Drinks

Food by A Catering Company

Sweet treats by Whipped, Beat & Battered

Music

Silent auction and raffle with awesome prizes from Steven Arroyo (Cobras & Matadors), Anti-Body, Urth Caffe, MAC Cosmetics, Aveda, Mary Kay, Smashbox, D Man Designs, Third Eye Tattoo, Lisa Robinson Photography, DW Drums, Spork Foods, Artasan Jewelry, Bikram Yoga of Silverlake, BLD Restaurant, photographer Nick Brandt, and more.

Fair trade sale featuring items made in Kenya and Ghana

Photography & Art by: Chris Leombruno, Pierre Letulzo, and Kenyan youth.

A curated exhibition titled Between the Surface, a photographic exchange in response to the use of beauty within contemporary image making. Among other participants, Calvin Lee both reveals and dismantles constructs present within imagery found in daily life, resulting in photographs that are not so readily consumable. In her piece from the series Nami, Kelly Kleinschrodt re-photographs images of waves, engaging with the photographic surface while simultaneously denying the viewer's ability to dismiss its status as a reproduction. Also joining this conversation are Allie Carr, Greg Hayes, Alexis Hudgins, Ivan Iannoli, Ian James, Laura Kim, Sidonie Loiseleux, Lakshmi Luthra, Joanne Mitchell, Job Piston, Maria Schriber, Katie Shapiro, April Totten, Lindsay Tunkl, and Katrina Umber.

For more information & pre-sale tickets contact celina@theniapeleproject.org.

If you can't attend the event but would like to make a donation, please click here.

The Birth of the Opuk Jakinda Cooperative

2009-08-09T20:34:00.000-07:00

In the last year, Kisumu has undergone a social transformation over as it grappled with the effects of a bitterly contested presidential election that resulted in extreme cases of violence. Unfortunately, the women and children bore the brunt of the violence. Given that the society is patriarchal in nature, many women were victims of sexual violence, others lost property, while still others lost their breadwinners in the violence and since have been exposed to increased poverty and ill health. At this time of economic recession, the country is unable to adequately provide its people with basic needs and food prices continue to skyrocket. This has lead to cases of increased incidences of HIV/AIDS and food insecurity as women are forced to use various means to make ends meet.

Following the trauma, fear, and injustice of the December 2007 elections and their aftermath and given the economic challenges facing the community, Voices and its partners have facilitated trainings and networking for groups comprised of primarily women in the Kisumu area in an effort to develop viable and sustainable income generating projects to assist them in providing livelihood for both their families and orphans in the community. Through these trainings, the Opuk Jakinda Cooperative was born.

Opuk Jakinda means hardworking tortoise in the Luo language. Opuk Jakinda Cooperative makes marketable products such as jewelry, paper products, and woven mats from recycled materials and the water hyacinth plant, a plant that spreads over Lake Victoria at an alarming rate and is linked to increases in vector borne diseases, reduced supply of clean potable water, blocking irrigation canals, and a decrease in biodiversity. Voices is working to connect this cooperative and others with partners in the

U.S.

to earn them a fair wage.

A First Step Into Fair Trade

2008-04-25T19:19:00.000-07:00

Okok Widows Group is working with voices to begin distribution of fair trade avocado oil and other products to American company Anti-Body.

Youth participate in the production of Pengle Entertainment's newest movie!

2007-09-17T17:47:00.000-07:00

Pengle Entertainment hired youth trained by voices and Abila Creative Center to work on its latest production PENGLE 5, the fifth episode in the popular Luo language comedy series.

Open auditions were held at Abila Creative Center to find fresh new comedic talent for the production.

Abila Youth Club member Agwata was chosen to co-star in PENGLE 5.

At Abila Creative Center children look on as PENGLE 5 director and star Geoffrey Omondi preps the cast for the first day of shooting.

Cameraman and Abila staff member Victor Ombonya films a scene providing social commentary on the traditional Luo practice of wife inheritance.

Upper Hill Youth Group member Nick, trained by Abila Creative Center in video, works the camera as cast member and Abila staff member Allan Juma and community members watch Geoffrey Omondi's performance in a storyline about married life.

The director oversees as the crew sets up for a shot in the storyline about language barriers and communication.

Cast members take a break between takes while filming at Abila Creative Center.

To purchase Pengle Entertainment's Pengle and Kipara Ngoto films please contact pengleentertainment@gmail.com.

Screenwriting Trainings - 12 to 16 June, 2007

2007-06-21T02:28:00.000-07:00

Screenwriter Dennis Feldman traveled from Los Angeles, CA to Kisumu, Kenya to lead concurrent 5-day screenwriting trainings, one at Tuungane Youth Center and the other at Abila Creative Center.

The class views a movie

Dennis teaches screenplay format

Dennis and Collins illustrate story development

Judy and CJ work on their screenplays

Gloria and Joshua read an original scene

VOICES trainings continue

2007-06-11T06:10:00.000-07:00

The Upper Hill Youth Group works with the digital camera

Aspiring cinematographer Nick from Upper Hill works with the video camera

Elvis leads the Upper Hill Youth Group as they develop the main character of their screenplay focused on promoting professional treatment of STIs

Emmanuel of Victory Post Test Group shoots their film entitled OPTION IN LIFE

Victory Post Test Group's Andrew films as Esnas tells her story

The ladies of Sophisticut using the video camera

Victor oversees as the ladies of Sophisticut view their footage

photo la

2007-01-23T22:16:00.000-08:00

Thanks to our supporters new and old, Voices was a big success at photo la! An especially big thanks to Stephen Cohen and Artfairs, Inc. for giving us this invaluable opportunity and to Pro One for the printing and Finishing Concepts for the mounting.

Here are some of the responses:

"These images are amazing. I am currently attending Brooks Institute of Photography and it has always been my dream to visit Africa. These images bring an awesome realism to my eyes! Great work."

"Thanks so much for sharing your lives with us. The exhibit was an extremely eye opening experience. Thank you."

"I really enjoyed the work. It has a great message that everyone needs to hear. Let me know of future things."

"This is important work to see your community from a perspective that is from within rather than from an observer who is disconnected. These images and messages are invaluable."

"Good for all of you - God Bless!"

"Your pictures make my heart feel big!"

"this project is so fascinating. thank you for sharing your world with us. please continue to document and share your community."

"Keep creating...And keep singing your songs...Let your voices be heard far and wide."

"Thank you for sharing your world with us. You are beautiful and brave and your story must be heard."

"Keep telling your stories and sharing your pictures. We are listening."

"Very inspirational + beautiful!"

"This is important work. It shows a part of the world we seldom see. Voices brings a voice to the youth of Kenya. I admire all of you."

"I really enjoyed your photos. Thank you for the chance to have an insight into your life, which is so different from mine."

"To the inspiring youth of the world. Thank you for sharing what you see. I appreciate the gift."

"Beautiful. Thank you very much."

"I really enjoyed seeing the beautiful photos of life and realize how important it will be to document it for more people to see. Thank you."

"The combination of teaching + allowing their students to learn from their own picture taking is amazing. Maybe their students will be inspired to become photographers themselves."

"I have had the great opportunity to have studied the art of photography since I was 12 years old and love that you are all embracing the art form so well. Continue taking wonderful pictures such as these, they are truly amazing."

"Thank you for sharing your photos with me. I am really touched by everything I see here. I love everyone in this world so this makes me really happy to see more expression and love everywhere."

Alexis hard at work in front of the youths' photographs and words on one side of our 20 foot booth.

Alexis' photographs of the process on the other side of our booth.

Our beautiful banner, which thanks our gracious sponsors Pro One and Finishing Concepts.

VOICES at photo la - Jan. 18-21

2007-01-10T23:00:00.000-08:00

Voices is an exhibition of photography and video depicting issues facing the youth of Kisumu, Kenya through their eyes. In a country notorious for corruption, in an area where HIV/AIDS, prostitution, rape, alcohol and substance abuse, discrimination, crime, poverty, and unemployment are among the first and most commonly mentioned issues by young people in community centers and schools, young people are forced to make life and death decisions on a daily basis. Using donated video and still camera equipment, these young people were given the opportunity to use creative expression through media to voice their thoughts, feelings, ideas, and experiences.

Voices will exhibit at photo la
Santa Monica Civic Auditorium
1855 Main street
Santa Monica, CA 90401

Preview reception benefit
Preview tickets - $100
All proceeds go to the
Elton John AIDS Foundation
Thursday, January 18th, 2007 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Public Hours
One-day pass - $20
Three-day pass - $30
Friday, January 19, 2007 noon to 7 p.m.
Saturday, January 20, 2007 noon to 7 p.m.
Sunday, January 21, 2007 noon to 6 p.m.

http://www.artfairsinc.com/photola/2007/

December at Abila Creative Center

2007-01-06T07:40:00.000-08:00

Even in the rain the kids of Mamboleo are enthusiastic.

By the end of 2006 Abila had a fully-functioning cyber cafe.

Youth were still dropping by frequently to use the cyber cafe and continue work on their projects.

Zack got to see pictures of his photos on display in New York City.

Abila staff like Allan Juma are still hard at work.

Abila staff member Steve's welcoming face at the informative entrance to Abila.

VOICES at photo ny 2006

2006-11-04T16:16:00.000-08:00

Here are some photographs taken at photo ny and the comments that people left for the youth about their work.

"This is a wonderful project Thank you for bringing it here."
"Wonderful project, agree."

Alexis' photos on one of the center walls

"I just loved your work."
"Great work, the prints look great & I hope you get lots of donations to have even more next time."
"Beautiful"

Alexis' and Sara's pictures on one of the center walls

"Really interesting."
"The project & show were very impressive. Mainly to see that life wants to be seen & survive no matter how hard it may be."

Left: Photo and words by Fred Okumuh with additional words by Collince Ochieng
Right: Photo and words by Zack Williams Okoth

"Your work is amazing, beautiful, mesmerizing; from the joy through the pain. The hearts from all around the globe always hear the song of love and acceptance, but sometimes we need to learn how to hear and see! With my love and gratitude!"

Alexis' photos on one of the center walls

"Congratulations on your artwork. Your photographs touched us and hopefully more can be done to increase our awareness. I hope to see more of your work in the future. Great pics!"
"I'm so happy to see this project what you are doing has great value don't give up."

Photo and words by Zack Williams Okoth

"Thank you for taking the time to take these photos and comments so we can be exposed to people's lives in your city. The photos are beautiful and comments are incredibly insightful. Congratulations!"

Photo by Emmanuel Sopiyo with words by Raphael Ogello

"Your photos and words brought up so many emotions for me. Your work is VERY powerful and moving. Thank you for your openness and honesty. Never stop doing this work and thinking about these issues. YOUR voice is what will change the world! Thank you for INSPIRING ME to DO and be better."

Left: Photo and words by Zack Williams Okoth
Right: Photo and words by Ken Shadrack Obuya

"This is one of the best booths in here."
"Thank you for sharing your lives and understandings with us. You are beautiful."

Left: Photo by Matabel with words by Ibrahim Mukwaya
Right: Photo by Bernard Nyadida with words by Collince Ochieng

"I absolutely loved the exhibit! You both did such an impressive job! The photos are beautiful!"
"Excellent exhibit! Keep up the good work!"

Left: Photo and words by Fred Okongo
Right: Photo and words by Victor Ombonya

"This is an amazing body of images. Please keep photographing! The world should know."
"Very excited about your project. Looking forward to hearing your stories and learning from you."

Left: Photo by Janet Adhiambo with words by Emmanuel Omondi and Paul Bogi
Right: Photo and words by William Ochieng

"It takes powerful photos like this to inspire change. This exhibit is excellent. Keep up the good work."
"Very beautiful and powerful photos. Excellent way to share the lives and stories of extraordinary children."

Photo and words by Jamal Juma

"This is great photography, and the fact that there is so much meaning presented within these images is very moving."
"Beautiful work amazing images and words."

"Beautiful photos. Courage!"

"Excellent project. When you get your website done, we will post info about you at the New Eyes Project, K12photoed.org. Keep up the great work."

Exhibition at Abila Creative Center in Kisumu

2006-08-30T04:47:00.000-07:00

On August 12, 2006 the entire town of Kisumu was invited to Abila Creative Center to view the video and photography projects made by the youth of Kisumu depicting the issues they face as seen through their own eyes. It was a wonderful opportunity to bring the community together to converse and celebrate.

Community members view the youths' photographs and words

The dance troupe from St. Anne's Academy performs

We had quite a turnout

The youths' videos get an audience

Mary Ojiayo photographs as community members look on

The kids in the room with their artwork

Trainings at Secondary Schools and Community Centers

2006-07-30T04:01:00.000-07:00

For two weeks we went to community centers and secondary schools to ask the youth to tell us what they saw as the biggest issues facing themselves and their communities. They were given basic instruction in photography and video. These young people were then invited to take photographs and make videos that depicted the issues they face as seen through their own eyes.

Alexis teaches the basics of photography to a group of students at Okok Mixed Secondary School

A young woman presents her photograph to the rest of the group at the Tuungane Youth Center Obunga Satellite

A group from the Tuungane Youth Center Nyalenda Satellite films their video project on HIV/AIDS on location in someone's home

A group from the Tuungane Youth Center Manyata Satellite films a documentary video project on sanitation

A group from Kisumu Boys' High School films a video project on corruption

A group from Kisumu Boys' High School films a video project on social injustice

A young man explains his group's photograph to students at Kisumu Boys' High School

Sara explains the basics of interviewing to a group at Kisumu Girls High School as a student captures their reactions on video

A group from Okok Mixed Secondary School films a video project on HIV/AIDS

The crew waits while the director contemplates the next shot at Okok Mixed Secondary School

Youth film a discussion at Tuungane Youth Center Nyalenda Satellite