Interview with Rwandan President Paul Kagame

Here is a video of president Paul Kagame talking about Rwanda helping themselves through an entrepreneurial based economy and creating a strategy for self sustaining growth.

Art for Africa - Buy Tickets or Donate

www.artforafrica.info

FOR TICKET SALES OR TO MAKE A DONATION, VISIT www.artforafrica.info
(you can also donate by clicking the "Donate" button under my picture on this page)
All proceeds go directly to GRDP - a registered non-profit.

If you’re unable to attend Art for Africa, please donate $50 (split it with a friend if you REALLY have to). Here’s what $50 will buy in Rwanda and how your money will make a difference:

1. A small piece of land to start an agricultural business that can employ hundreds
2. A woman can buy thread and embroidery supplies for her business and send her kids to school
3. Will buy a 50kg (110 lbs) bag of sugar for a bakery

Here’s what you’ll spend $50 on:

1. One night out for dinner or 2-3 alcoholic drinks (if you live in Toronto!)
2. Starbucks – one week of Starbucks coffee
3. A book or 2 from Chapters
4. One tank of gas
5. A night at the movies (for two)
6. Tell me, what have you spent $50 on lately?

Art for Africa site launch - www.artforafrica.info

I'm very excited about the trip and my first travel experience in Africa and hope that you can also be part of the journey...

Earlier this summer, I decided to raise funds for GRDP through donations and by throwing a fundraising event. If you are not able to come to the fundraiser, please help me raise my CA$10,000 goal by donating to GRDP. (please see the invite, website and ticket purchase and donation information below)

You are invited to a unique fundraising event - Art for Africa.

Thursday, April 8, 2010

6pm - 9pm

The SHAMBA Foundation, located at 48 Yonge Street, Suite 1200 (Yonge and King)

The evening includes cocktails, hors d'oeuvres, live music, plus as part of your ticket purchase, an original piece of art generously donated from one of over 100 local artists. The evening promises to be lively, fun and inspiring!

As part of a project created by Global Relief and Development Partners' (GRDP) Social Entrepreneurship Program, the funds raised will help Rwandan entrepreneurs rebuild their country after the 1994 genocide and emerge from poverty.

As a GRDP representative, I have volunteered to finance my trip to Rwanda in order to be a part of this initiative. The hope is to add value to the Rwandan community, bring investment, jobs, and expertise in to the country.

This evening is truly special, as not only are the Rwandan people benefiting from the proceeds raised from this evening, but Art for Africa also creates a venue for local artists to showcase their work. These talented artists cover a vast array of styles and mediums sure to catch the eye of everyone in attendance. Plus you will have the unique opportunity to discuss the pieces with the artists and even have them signed.

I hope to see you there!

For ticket sales or to make a donation visit www.artforafrica.info

WHY GRDP?

Many people have been asking me why GRDP and why Rwanda - especially since Rwanda conjures up images of the 1994 genocide and the nearly one million people that were slaughtered over 100 days. I am sitting here reading this and realize that that's the same time frame from today until I leave for Rwanda on December 11. 100 days. Just over three months. One quarter in the business world. However you want to look at it, it's not a lot of time to murder (approximately) 10,000 people each day.
I can't begin to fathom the destruction, and it's apparent to me at this very moment - while my stomach hurts from reading the above - that the answer to the question is "why not GRDP?"

It's important to find your passion and support it. I've found mine. For years I've been searching for an organization in Africa that empowers people and provides them with the tools they'll require to sustain themselves, their families and their communities, and when I found GRDP I knew I had to volunteer with them because that's their mission: "...enabling them to lead their countries out of the cycle of poverty, corruption, and violence."

Originally it wasn't my intent to visit Rwanda, but after hearing the stories of friends who've recently been there, I am thrilled that it's the first country in Africa that I will experience, and I am sure the people of Rwanda will teach me far more than I can begin to teach them. I look forward to the journey and to changing my life forever.

And, I look forward to raising money to support this incredible organization, their mission and the Rwandan people.

Rwanda Fact - Rwanda is half the size of Nova Scotia and about the same size as Massachusetts.

Art for Africa update

We're working away on the fundraiser and the website will be up and running in the next week. The site will give you more information about the event, my trip to Rwanda, and will allow you to buy tickets for the fundraiser and/or make a donation.

To-date, the event is 100% volunteer driven and corporate sponsored so all the proceeds will support Global Relief and Development Partners and their Social Entrepreneurship Program. My goal was to raise $10,000 for GRDP.

Thanks to Keza jewelry www.keza.com for partnering with us for the fundraiser. Check out their gorgeous line of one-of-a-kind African jewelry - all made by women who are now being educated and employed thanks to this great organization.

Also, thank you to everyone who voted for me in the "Release Your Goodness" contest. Once I know the results, I'll let you know too!

We continue to look for artists (that represent all mediums) and are able to donate one or two pieces of their art to the fundraiser. If you're an artist or know an artist, please contact me at artforafricainfo(at)ymail.com