Global Alliance for Africa (“GAA”) is a not-for-profit organization based in Chicago and Arusha, Tanzania. GAA supports programs in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, and Liberia. One of the programs includes community based care for orphans and other vulnerable children who have lost one or both parents to AIDS. In July 2006, 24 American volunteers - artists, teachers and students, worked with 8 African artists to conduct an art camp at GAA’s Tumaini Vocational Training Center in Arusha in which 166 children participated. The purpose was to provide a means of expression for these children whose lives have been so impacted with loss and dramatically affected by AIDS. The African artists included two music teachers, two Maasai women beaders, a batik artist, a painter, a block print artist and a weaver/spinner. Pat Skinner, Ferencak Gallery & School of Art student, was among the American volunteers.

What became clear at the end of the camp is the need for an ongoing art/music therapy program at the school – one which will have a dedicated classroom, an art director and social worker on staff. The program combines the interests of the western world in providing long-term, sustainable solutions to the growing number of children affected by HIV/AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa, and the concerns of local communities in meeting both the psycho-social and educational needs of these children. That is the long term goal. Short term, GAA is returning to Tanzania in June to conduct another art camp, working with many of the same African artists and some new artists who have embraced this project. The camp will offer the children instruction in batik, painting, block printing, weaving, and music, to name a few of the projects. Pat Skinner will again be part of the group.

To help raise funds for the art program Ferencak Gallery & School of Art adult students, led by project leader Pat Skinner, are creating Angels for Africa - artistic impressions in a variety of mediums that will be used to raise funds for the 2007 art camp and the overall art program. Angels for Africa will soon be available for sale at www.ferencakgallery.com.

For more information on Global Alliance for Africa visit their website at www.globalallianceafrica.org and for more information on Angels for Africa contact Pat Skinner at PASkinner@duanemorris.com or
Dawn Ferencak at gallery@ferencak.net.