Cape Town Carnival

March 18-20, 2010
Cape Town, South Africa

From 2010, all citizens of Cape Town will have an annual, all inclusive Carnival that aims at bringing together the diverse communities of the city through the universal language of music, dance, cultural and creative expression. The inaugural Cape Town Carnival will be held from 18–20 March 2010. Book Your Trip Now!!!

The Cape Town Carnival endeavors to create something new, where communities interact and celebrate our uniqueness, but also unite as citizens of one of the most beautiful cities of the world. While Rio Carnival represents a benchmark in relation to our quest, Cape Town Carnival will be distinctly and uniquely representative of our South African demographic, psychographic and cultural representation. The Carnival is optimistic that this event will strengthen social cohesion and cultural expression, the building of community self-esteem and development and the creation of positive spin-offs for the local economy and especially tourism.

The theme for the 2010 Carnival is “Rhythm, Roots & Boots”, celebrating Cape Town’s inherent talent in all things cultural and artistic, as well as paying tribute to our rich heritage.  Carnival Schedule

Relief for Haiti: Donate Now!!!

January 14 could be the biggest day for mobile giving to date, as word that texting "Haiti" to number 90999 to donate $10 to the American Red Cross went viral via Twitter, Facebook, and news reports. (Facebook reports that its users have been posting more than 1,500 status updates a minute containing the word Haiti.)  Donate Now!!!

In $10 increments, more than $4 million has been raised via the MGive Foundation's Haiti campaign, according to a Verizon Wireless spokesman. The campaign was set up with with the U.S. State Department and Red Cross late Tuesday night. While the total had reached $2 million Wednesday night, it climbed to $3 million overnight and surpassed $4 million Thursday morning--a number that could continue climbing steadily for days.

"Today is a huge day for mobile giving," Tony Aiello, chief executive of MGive, told The New York Times. "We are experiencing a tipping point."

MGive offers a variety of mobile giving campaigns, including texting "DOB" to the same number to donate to Doctors Without Borders and "need" to Neediest Kids, and has waived its typical licensing fee to the Red Cross so that 100 percent of every donation actually makes its way to the relief organization.

"Catastrophic fund-raising is different from the everyday fund-raising that we help facilitate," Aiello says. "This is a huge tragedy, and we simply hope to help provide relief."

According to MGive's Haiti FAQ, most mobile carriers allow only two $10 donations to be made a month, and users will be billed for these donations by their carriers, not MGive. Meanwhile, MGive's 90999 HAITI campaign only works for U.S. mobile phone numbers.

Receipts of donations can be both confirmed and printed at http://mgive.org/receipt/ by entering the mobile phone number used to make one's text donation. The MGive Foundation, established just four months ago, says it is responsible for raising more than 90 percent of all funds to date through the mobile giving channel.

Haitian-born singer Wyclef Jean, who runs the charity organization Yele, has also set up a mobile donation campaign, through which people can donate $5 when they text "Yele" to number 501501, or more when they Donate Online.

Exhibit by Liberian Artist Naplah E. Naplah

You are coordially invited to attend an Exhibit/Opening Reception for Liberian artist Naplah E. Naplah and a Fundraiser benefiting The Lucille and Willie Murphy Foundation (LWMF) at Gems of Africa Gallery on Friday, December 4, 2009 from 6:30pm to 8:30pm.

Exhibit runs thru December 19th.

15% of the proceeds from all sales during the Opening Reception will benefit (LWMF) and will be donated to the Sithabile Child and Youth Orphanage in South Africa.

Naplah was born on December 8, 1955 from the Grand Kru Country in Liberia, West Africa. He is a self taught artist who spent most of his time painting. His interest in art goes back to age 7, when he first saw his cousin drawing pictures of super heroes. At first Naplah would copy his cousin's drawings. Than when he was old enough, he bought his own comic book and drew the pictures line for line. Eventually Naplah became one of the best illustrators in his country and won first place in the Liberian Election Commission Art competition. Following high school Naplah completed three years of schooling in the field of education and began offering workshops and lectures, in addition to demonstrating his technique in different elementary schools. Naplah was also an illustrator for various magazines and text books for the National Catholic Secretariat of Liberia. After a great deal of illustrations, Naplah transitioned his discipline to painting. Since then, his drawings and paintings have been part of group exhibitions sponsored by the U.S. Information Services and other prestigious institutions. He has exhibited his works in Liberia at the U.S. Embassy, the Lebanese Embassy and The Liberian Cultural Center. He has also exhibited in Minnesota at the Broadway Community Center and the Lakeville Art Center.

For more info go to www.gemsofafricagallery.com

16th Anniversary Celebration of Africa's Children's Fund

Register Now by calling 770-465-6610

Even if you can not attend, please consider donating to this worthy cause.

Africa's Children's Fund

4470 Chamblee-Dunwoody Road  Suite 350

Atlanta, GA 30338  Phone 770-465-6610  e-mail:

Sunday, November 15, 2009 from 6:00 to 10:00pm

Teaching Kwanza To Your Child

In this workshop, participants will learn how to apply arts-based character building and teacher-developed hands-on activities to Kwanzaa principles throughout the year -- at work, at home and at play.

Dr. Collette M. Hopkins, Facilitator

Saturday, December 12, 2009
10 AM - 12 Noon

Atlanta Fulton County Public Library
Central Children's Department
One Margaret Mitchell Square
Atlanta, GA 30303
Get Directions from mapquest
404-224-3464
chopkins@nbaf.org

Price:
Free and open to the public

Pre-registration is required for this FREE workshop

REGISTER NOW!!!

Please contact 404-224-3464, for additional information.