tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22065787666254523402024-02-18T18:50:40.654-08:00Painting Brighter FuturesFounded by DC area artist and teacher, Painting Brighter Futures is trying to make the world a brighter place for women and children living in poverty worldwide. Adrienne Wymanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04796095624979907031noreply@blogger.comBlogger56125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2206578766625452340.post-23237232335725117652016-11-08T04:28:00.004-08:002016-11-08T12:10:26.626-08:00Tell everyone your dreams!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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On election day here in the US, I woke up thinking about a girl I met in Nairobi, Kenya, among other things of course. When I spoke to her class back in 2014, I told them to <span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><i><b>te</b></i></span><span style="color: #cc0000;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000;">ll everyone their dreams". </span></b></span></i></span>Imaculee timidly raised her hand and asked if I could get the school a computer. There were 800 children in the school and not one computer! </div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #660000;">It worked!</span> </span></b>Three weeks later they had their first computer! </div>
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<span style="text-align: center;">Where there is a will, there is a way. </span><span style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Dream big girls. </span></b>Who knows, you could become </span><span style="text-align: center;"><i>president!</i></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0S9xh2fiGSzzIVEkeggKkftNkdcbuCDtWLyCdAHZ_swql68A5KAnQIQ1zhli_9Mkyjfb7vdokeK9n4pwbLTbF3lNLZoUqcSrw1dumloK5P8FxkrT5AzXHdgvPA1X6ju-EASwTMXlfQ_ka/s1600/classroom+in+Kenya.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0S9xh2fiGSzzIVEkeggKkftNkdcbuCDtWLyCdAHZ_swql68A5KAnQIQ1zhli_9Mkyjfb7vdokeK9n4pwbLTbF3lNLZoUqcSrw1dumloK5P8FxkrT5AzXHdgvPA1X6ju-EASwTMXlfQ_ka/s320/classroom+in+Kenya.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Imaculee is the second row center. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6NNUxUR7m4hNKyjzoWfAM4d43AyiZqQhSPn9lKoyvPOt1jIF6dDOy5z82ZQDi-k0M537wC2Nb9J_TmWs8y3ctWhxo1Ez58ZOULYMP-nowSRgIjD0u5yliY_0QAfyDhIle7dkokmDiGsRu/s1600/B254oevIYAEGKTb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6NNUxUR7m4hNKyjzoWfAM4d43AyiZqQhSPn9lKoyvPOt1jIF6dDOy5z82ZQDi-k0M537wC2Nb9J_TmWs8y3ctWhxo1Ez58ZOULYMP-nowSRgIjD0u5yliY_0QAfyDhIle7dkokmDiGsRu/s320/B254oevIYAEGKTb.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Imaculee and her teacher with the school's first computer. </td></tr>
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Now, I am going to go out and be a #NastyWoman and Vote!</div>
Adrienne Wymanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04796095624979907031noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2206578766625452340.post-81452704812258620552016-11-08T04:28:00.003-08:002016-11-08T04:46:59.609-08:00Tell everyone your dreams!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: left;">
On election day here in the US, I woke up thinking about a girl I met in Nairobi, Kenya, among other things of course. When I spoke to her class back in 2014, I told them to <b style="color: #cc0000;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">tell everyone your dreams. </span></i></b>Imaculee timidly raised her hand and asked if I could get the school a computer - 800 children and not one computer. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #660000;">It worked!</span> </span></b>Three weeks later they had their first computer! </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="text-align: center;">Where there is a will, there is a way. </span><span style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Dream big girls. </span></b>Who knows, you could become </span><span style="text-align: center;"><i>president!</i></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0S9xh2fiGSzzIVEkeggKkftNkdcbuCDtWLyCdAHZ_swql68A5KAnQIQ1zhli_9Mkyjfb7vdokeK9n4pwbLTbF3lNLZoUqcSrw1dumloK5P8FxkrT5AzXHdgvPA1X6ju-EASwTMXlfQ_ka/s1600/classroom+in+Kenya.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0S9xh2fiGSzzIVEkeggKkftNkdcbuCDtWLyCdAHZ_swql68A5KAnQIQ1zhli_9Mkyjfb7vdokeK9n4pwbLTbF3lNLZoUqcSrw1dumloK5P8FxkrT5AzXHdgvPA1X6ju-EASwTMXlfQ_ka/s320/classroom+in+Kenya.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Imaculee is the second row center. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6NNUxUR7m4hNKyjzoWfAM4d43AyiZqQhSPn9lKoyvPOt1jIF6dDOy5z82ZQDi-k0M537wC2Nb9J_TmWs8y3ctWhxo1Ez58ZOULYMP-nowSRgIjD0u5yliY_0QAfyDhIle7dkokmDiGsRu/s1600/B254oevIYAEGKTb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6NNUxUR7m4hNKyjzoWfAM4d43AyiZqQhSPn9lKoyvPOt1jIF6dDOy5z82ZQDi-k0M537wC2Nb9J_TmWs8y3ctWhxo1Ez58ZOULYMP-nowSRgIjD0u5yliY_0QAfyDhIle7dkokmDiGsRu/s320/B254oevIYAEGKTb.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Imaculee and her teacher with the school's first computer. </td></tr>
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Now, I am going to go out and be a #NastyWoman and Vote!</div>
Adrienne Wymanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04796095624979907031noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2206578766625452340.post-50903611132531400862015-10-22T07:52:00.001-07:002019-04-03T06:48:53.896-07:00Christmas in July<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Here is a little update.<br />
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In July my friend Kerry Jetton and I hosted a day long event to assemble Christmas gifts for the children at Future Leaders UCC.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0RpEqsLoR4c-3HlEJGdLtZdHI9o5hT0AGOeyMwaXP8rrc8y6Qv6xV9eXpjsBthD9uYPYxgm8chbWm9VUTUAErJxJNbhLNqd9NkVULdEkgjsOqEfpQGLjCdYqdsKcNIIlJtaWk5LzhFFSy/s1600/20150729_121206.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0RpEqsLoR4c-3HlEJGdLtZdHI9o5hT0AGOeyMwaXP8rrc8y6Qv6xV9eXpjsBthD9uYPYxgm8chbWm9VUTUAErJxJNbhLNqd9NkVULdEkgjsOqEfpQGLjCdYqdsKcNIIlJtaWk5LzhFFSy/s400/20150729_121206.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Women from Northern Virginia and DC got together and hand decorated each gift bag. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSaWB0nzzdblkFWj9AiuHJ80ulEIYt6tIie7De77C_ahDgW7MvbNg3P1m0X826UBUAnKEkB482MSERG-HwW_K0CN4eAtabq6wpW1Fgw1fDkN3X4vgcO4qUdDhyphenhyphenzkIgKs1VmdvIXze8ARSP/s1600/20150727_195501.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSaWB0nzzdblkFWj9AiuHJ80ulEIYt6tIie7De77C_ahDgW7MvbNg3P1m0X826UBUAnKEkB482MSERG-HwW_K0CN4eAtabq6wpW1Fgw1fDkN3X4vgcO4qUdDhyphenhyphenzkIgKs1VmdvIXze8ARSP/s320/20150727_195501.jpg" width="180" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx9ZxjDDedx4eivWyQ48X4WgWRBN-ZpRuiVzL0DJhA9yjy1uRT2jusirCrssEFw6ResbZb3DyB4SiUsVQV3fvriiQW41AIm6eCokUOFR8s_QzfKdj4idEfJNE2T1cFyU2z4Lw4bvv6LSZl/s1600/20150727_203622.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx9ZxjDDedx4eivWyQ48X4WgWRBN-ZpRuiVzL0DJhA9yjy1uRT2jusirCrssEFw6ResbZb3DyB4SiUsVQV3fvriiQW41AIm6eCokUOFR8s_QzfKdj4idEfJNE2T1cFyU2z4Lw4bvv6LSZl/s320/20150727_203622.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We shopped the back to school sales for art and school supplies for the gift bags. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkKbGFfzKw2yNG3V-UC9cucAMoXphysdVp6xTuzU0_CrN6IJ3ILpPpnF9xqZjD9Nv2blGBTOzz0Y4lTlDA123xu7KYQLVRzKEW1vN6AL4y0IvXD3S2f7D5bklrt0Orm0-gzF72o9ZipxQg/s1600/20150729_130527.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkKbGFfzKw2yNG3V-UC9cucAMoXphysdVp6xTuzU0_CrN6IJ3ILpPpnF9xqZjD9Nv2blGBTOzz0Y4lTlDA123xu7KYQLVRzKEW1vN6AL4y0IvXD3S2f7D5bklrt0Orm0-gzF72o9ZipxQg/s320/20150729_130527.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">While we were decorated we were getting advice all the way from our friends in Ghana at Champions Porch sports bar on how to write Merry Christmas on the bags.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeDRrvB6ikO8siCyOiZ3cpJyFdXiOZjwpHbK4xCrfjDvULpeASL9T4TihNgw4HGE_tSDJXlMSTojnE8Rsw3DKebd0prFID4YlzSQaEb9ZNs_OjKJfqkinJSDxckUCGrFPPG1Ju_Z4WGGCd/s1600/20150728_143403.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeDRrvB6ikO8siCyOiZ3cpJyFdXiOZjwpHbK4xCrfjDvULpeASL9T4TihNgw4HGE_tSDJXlMSTojnE8Rsw3DKebd0prFID4YlzSQaEb9ZNs_OjKJfqkinJSDxckUCGrFPPG1Ju_Z4WGGCd/s320/20150728_143403.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> Beanie Babies. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6ttVvYnQpP4Pu2OW47FIYjDst6VejvDno9hK6VLZ_FhPDbPqX14WiZYctayqMlwAJGYKxA0UistKuohj9qCyiDLSdF36BlWn22NxPDawtHnZbzWfLF5BrW9llOP1Sk9VjCt1hK7dpFLka/s1600/20150725_072227.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6ttVvYnQpP4Pu2OW47FIYjDst6VejvDno9hK6VLZ_FhPDbPqX14WiZYctayqMlwAJGYKxA0UistKuohj9qCyiDLSdF36BlWn22NxPDawtHnZbzWfLF5BrW9llOP1Sk9VjCt1hK7dpFLka/s320/20150725_072227.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We collected toys like barbies, </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwQqQqQftqQmi3EEOLGT9b3jKBdaLnr3Q6HnmX9nXfGc9IvzH-2w3HNEXixu2A6XLdc81K7FFfKjRntbgzJH5lt-8V2fL220phM4rUZChOYk0d0KhSqv8G61LVI7Puz4zeU48zPirJWc3T/s1600/20150911_071859.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwQqQqQftqQmi3EEOLGT9b3jKBdaLnr3Q6HnmX9nXfGc9IvzH-2w3HNEXixu2A6XLdc81K7FFfKjRntbgzJH5lt-8V2fL220phM4rUZChOYk0d0KhSqv8G61LVI7Puz4zeU48zPirJWc3T/s320/20150911_071859.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">and cars and trucks for the kids! </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8UnIgDtuuzatlgNMOGqY9K-fCwLqNyUJKqYIXZt1NISm-rkGL3y43JWcf8VSkFfJ4DjcTdJhaO2e1R10nPNo5zyTpsm4EGxEIubi9jhBbSVM0XEaTsOmW9mmcAwQ4QmCFcjHDUy_2Ycdo/s1600/20150806_171131.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8UnIgDtuuzatlgNMOGqY9K-fCwLqNyUJKqYIXZt1NISm-rkGL3y43JWcf8VSkFfJ4DjcTdJhaO2e1R10nPNo5zyTpsm4EGxEIubi9jhBbSVM0XEaTsOmW9mmcAwQ4QmCFcjHDUy_2Ycdo/s320/20150806_171131.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We filled and boxed over 260 gift bags - enough for all of the kids at Future Leaders plus the kids from the community who also come to the party.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8WwsnOqQ6GFTJlBAbmgg6xB5fG3ZrcKr_2cTJJVthb6HUoSYlAkY6EeYsS-iXQxOV318Oypwd1Q8ffhpXsnZTTu3KomMVonFyDpLdW4h2DxPwXuCoDhGUG3xZhGtCL1s02D6BGFXYiimT/s1600/20150912_140547.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8WwsnOqQ6GFTJlBAbmgg6xB5fG3ZrcKr_2cTJJVthb6HUoSYlAkY6EeYsS-iXQxOV318Oypwd1Q8ffhpXsnZTTu3KomMVonFyDpLdW4h2DxPwXuCoDhGUG3xZhGtCL1s02D6BGFXYiimT/s320/20150912_140547.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Adrienne brought the boxes to Daniel, our shipping angel. Daniel got the boxes on a special shipment to make sure they would arrive in Africa on time. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJhRBtlbIKfAjUSKpG8BoVz5V9uCYbI3dXUZjr2aY-IYaz60surNIJ20D6PGNaNeNT7WHE-RoyizHm9vKNhOcvcpIgLjwroxyS0MIvVp24lp-wmwqFmLakzz8L7gDBZkbBQAeTL6Qcj6aK/s1600/894943_543608142349222_1583601303_o+-+Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJhRBtlbIKfAjUSKpG8BoVz5V9uCYbI3dXUZjr2aY-IYaz60surNIJ20D6PGNaNeNT7WHE-RoyizHm9vKNhOcvcpIgLjwroxyS0MIvVp24lp-wmwqFmLakzz8L7gDBZkbBQAeTL6Qcj6aK/s320/894943_543608142349222_1583601303_o+-+Copy.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This picture was taken with the little bags we sent in 2012. It is so beautiful to see how the project is growing. Thanks to everyone who participated!!!<br />
Medassi Pa!<br />
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The ship set sail in September. Look for more pictures to come.</td></tr>
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Adrienne Wymanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04796095624979907031noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2206578766625452340.post-51267112890269632602015-06-17T07:21:00.001-07:002015-06-18T04:50:37.102-07:00Colors of the World - Exhibition and Fundraiser in Arlington<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<i style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> "If you walk the footsteps of a stranger, </span></i></div>
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<i style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;">you'll learn things you never knew you never knew" </span></span></i></div>
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<i style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Disney's Pocahontas</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Two aspects of my life, as a painter and humanitarian, will merge this July as I share my paintings and raise funds for my charity at a solo exhibition and fundraiser at the Gallery Underground in Arlington, VA. I choose the name Colors of the World, a take on the Disney song from the movie Pocahontas, Colors of the Wind, because, in my opinion, the song and my art resonate with the concept of empathy....... </span><i style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">"We are all connected to each other, </span></i><i style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">in a circle, in a hoop that never ends" </span></i><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">When traveling, I am fascinated by the unique colors and sense of energy that permeate a region. However, I am not drawn to paint the monuments or tourist attractions, but rather the snapshots of beauty that can be found in moments of every day life - moments that stir universal emotions. </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Every painting tells a story, a place I visited, a person I met, a life that touched mine. These people have brightened my life, expanded my world and I try to give back by helping their communities though the charity <a href="http://www.paintingbrighterfutures.com/" target="_blank">Painting Brighter Futures. </a> Proceeds from each sale will go to Painting Brighter Futures projects to support groups on the ground helping children in Ghana , Kenya and here in the US. You can learn more on the website www.PaintingBrighterfutures.com. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Hope to see you there. </span><br />
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Adrienne Wymanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04796095624979907031noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2206578766625452340.post-36703592195754796392015-03-30T14:45:00.002-07:002015-04-02T18:26:26.516-07:00Thanks, Mark Zuckerberg!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
for inventing Facebook to help me to connect with charitable people around the world! (whether or not that was the intention doesn't matter). Here's what I mean.....<br />
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<b>On Friday,</b> I was looking around on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Noha-Future-Leaders-UCC-Products/620805908031257?fref=ts" target="_blank">Future Leader's Underprivileged Children's Center's Facebook</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: 'helvetica neue', helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18.6000003814697px; text-indent: 2px; white-space: nowrap;"> </span>page to find a picture of their vocational sewing center in Ghana. I wanted to send it to my friend, Karen. Karen Read is an expat from the UK, currently living in Virginia, and passionate about helping children in need. We were heading down to the <a href="http://www.easternmarket-dc.org/" target="_blank">Eastern Market</a> in Washington, DC to do some market research. We were looking for a venue to sell the cloth bags made by the mothers of the children at the children's center. We plan to use the proceeds to help the fund to build a school.<br />
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Here, some of the kids pose with the bags their mothers have made. The sewing center is in an old shipping container. When I first visited, they were using the old black singer sewing machines our mothers used in the 1950's. It is great to see some of the <a href="http://www.adrienneartist.blogspot.com/2014/07/teach-them-to-fish-or-sew.html" target="_blank">new sewing machines</a> m<span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">y friends in America have donated . At the center the women learn a trade for free and then pass the knowledge on to others. They also sew the school uniforms for the children and products to raise money for the new school. </span></div>
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While looking for that photo I ran across this one on the kids reading with the phonics books we sent last year. I thought that my friend Diane Angba might like to see it. Diane made a call to Manassas Schools <a href="http://adrienneartist.blogspot.com/2013/09/books-from-baldwin-elementary.html" target="_blank">back in 2013</a> to ask if they had any computers they could donate. They didn't have any computers but they did have books. - Oh my did they have books. We had to send them by<a href="http://adrienneartist.blogspot.com/2013/10/and-they-are-off-shipping-container-is.html" target="_blank"> container ship</a>! <a href="http://adrienneartist.blogspot.com/2014/10/the-shipment-has-sailed.html" target="_blank">Twice!</a></div>
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On <b>Saturday</b> morning, I posted this picture on Diane's Facebook page. By evening, I had a new team of friends contacting me on Facebook, who want to collect donations and even travel to Africa help too. Cheryl in Germany wants to start a donation drive and meet us in Africa. Traci, works for an airline and is going to look into options for flying to Ghana. Jeri, a children's art teacher in Canada, is going to collect art supplies and plan a class to teach and Karen is organizing a booth at the Eastern Market in DC to sell the products.</div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">This is Karen with one of the bags at the Eastern Market. Several people commented on the bag and we think they will be a big hit. We loved the market, the people, the energy, the vibe. It reminded me of fun times traveling in foreign countries.</span></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">Oh, and THEN on <b>Sunday</b>, I had "real time" Facebook chats with the director of the school in</span><span style="text-align: left;"> </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/mograstaracademy" style="text-align: left;" target="_blank">Kenya</a><span style="text-align: left;"> </span><span style="text-align: left;">and the school in</span><span style="text-align: left;"> </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/FutureLeadersUCC/timeline" style="text-align: left;" target="_blank">Ghana</a><span style="text-align: left;"> </span><span style="text-align: left;">to discuss how we are going to help them. It used to be so difficult to communicate with my friends in Africa. It is amazing to be able to communicate real time. Now, we are really going to be able to make some great things happen for these children. </span></div>
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So, Thanks Mark Zuckerberg for inventing Facebook so that I could connect my friends in the first world with my friend in third. I bet you could never have predicted THIS way back when you were a college school! Isn't it amazing?!</div>
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Oh and Thanks Keri Douglas my social media teacher at NOVA. Great class.</div>
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Adrienne Wymanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04796095624979907031noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2206578766625452340.post-543425139466148492015-03-13T09:53:00.001-07:002015-03-14T07:44:49.266-07:00Recent article about show in Frederick, MD<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span xmlns=""></span>I am sharing an article written by the owner of 505 North Gallery in Frederick, Maryland.<br />
Thanks Kelly!<br />
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<span xmlns=""><strong>Frederick Loves Kralick's Colors March 2015</strong></span><br />
<span xmlns="">By Kelly Phebus</span><br />
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<span xmlns="">Meet Northern Virginia artist Adrienne Kralick – painter, teacher, global citizen. She has recently returned after a sabbatical to paint and focus on her charity organization, Painting Brighter Futures, which helps children living in under-served communities of the U.S. and Africa improve their lives through education. (More information at: <a href="http://www.paintingbrighterfutures.com/">www.PaintingBrighterFutures.com</a> .)</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Paintings of African women and children at 505 North Gallery.</td></tr>
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<span xmlns="">Public response Kralick's works showing in Frederick at 505 North Gallery & Studio has been centered around the colorful scenes from Africa and the joy depicted in the faces of people in their daily routines. "I love to paint people, especially women and children… a woman walking to work is an ordinary scene… with a basket of fruit on her head and a baby on her back the scene becomes exotic to someone who lives in America. I love this juxtaposition; the beauty of everyday life in different cultures and countries." </span><br />
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<span xmlns="">This series of oil paintings on linen reflects an impressionistic style, which translates well to viewers as memories we may illuminate with our own experiences. For commissioned portraits, Adrienne Kralick has used a clean, accurate and clear style of painting, but says she has always loved the impressionists. Kralick studied the work of the Dutch and Flemish masters while living in Belgium, and learned even more as a museum copyist at the Art Institute of Chicago. Today her style combines a range of techniques from different time periods. (More information about the artist at: <a href="http://www.adrienneartist.com/">www.AdrienneArtist.com</a> .)</span><br />
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<span xmlns=""><strong>How did you come to understand such a variety of painting techniques?</strong></span><br />
<span xmlns="">Years ago when I sought to find a way to learn how great artists accomplished what they did, it was difficult to find. There really aren't any classes called "Learn the Secrets of Rembrandt", well, not until I started teaching the. I started by creating my own education - by learning techniques from many different places, studying with artists I admired in the U.S. and in Europe, reading a ton of books and articles, copying masterpieces in the museum at the Art Institute of Chicago, studying originals up close and in person wherever I could all over the world. Now, I teach workshops and classes on the various techniques of different artists and genres. I even lead a tour of Monet's France in the summer of 2013.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Adrienne Kralick learning the techniques on Pompei Batoni <br />
at the Art Institute of Chicago in 2003.</td></tr>
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<span xmlns=""><strong>When did you first begin to paint travel series?</strong></span><br />
<span xmlns="">I first began to travel when I met my husband Ken. He has always traveled for business and the trips have gotten further and more exotic over the years. When we moved to Europe in 1998, my youngest child started school and I set out to paint each day. At that time I also took tons of photos of things I wanted to paint. I am still painting from those photos in addition to capturing scenes from my recent travels.</span><br />
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<span xmlns=""><strong>How do you manage in more exotic or remote locations?</strong></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkV_rfyvCG01MRJpo07W96ajek9i7MQdVeSd9RxGgPrNExpDXoMtBY6cG-F5i6XevK3VyK_FCifmTE7l3Wt_0ULCwRqCI9w-0X__CcLYf9E0A8RNCgriivkKiVSTv2O9-I5VYQQ2kFAIMF/s1600/Egypt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkV_rfyvCG01MRJpo07W96ajek9i7MQdVeSd9RxGgPrNExpDXoMtBY6cG-F5i6XevK3VyK_FCifmTE7l3Wt_0ULCwRqCI9w-0X__CcLYf9E0A8RNCgriivkKiVSTv2O9-I5VYQQ2kFAIMF/s1600/Egypt.jpg" height="200" width="112" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Adrienne in Egypt 2014</td></tr>
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<span xmlns="">I was terrified the first time I flew by myself to Europe and I was afraid to leave the hotel by myself. Now, I have flown alone to places like Ghana and Dubai and I am perfectly content wandering the streets of a new city alone. I try to see every art museum and gallery I can in each place. However, if it is a dangerous place or the culture is difficult to navigate, I hire a local guide to take me around. It is a great way to get to know the culture and make new friends.</span><br />
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<span xmlns=""><strong>How did you become interested in helping under-privileged communities?</strong><br /> </span><br />
<span xmlns="">I have always looked for a way to give back and tried several avenues before I found the one that spoke right to my heart – the children of Africa. I was first inspired help these children while I was visiting my daughter who was spending a semester in Ghana, studying at the university and volunteering with Future Leaders Underprivileged Children's Center. I immediately fell in love with the children and I just had to find a way to help them. But what could I do? I was just an artist with a little studio/school in Great Falls, Virginia. So, I decided to donate the proceeds from the paintings I was doing of African scenes to help the center.
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When people heard about the project, they started to bring me donations of clothes and school supplies to take back with me to Africa – and I went back 3 more times that year! It had a snowball effect. We have now sent two shipping containers loaded with: school books, school supplies, clothes, shoes, sports equipment, computer, office supplies, sewing machines and more. We started a new computer lab with donated laptop computers and are planning to break ground on a new school soon. I am amazed at how this has grown. Painting Brighter Futures is now a non-profit organization helping children in Kenya, Ghana and here in the U.S.<br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqUoHd59lOtffXp858Q34pjyz266fy6gIMG4j6LvAtjdkjredH52voZBfTUrmNCnFQe2dVWYR16m309NzhKi37RDcvv_5iAu4ZA3I_OUGjCGvfSW1jEvV6vm3MsyI3YXMN5BBhA-t_NrtK/s1600/giving+kid+sleappads.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqUoHd59lOtffXp858Q34pjyz266fy6gIMG4j6LvAtjdkjredH52voZBfTUrmNCnFQe2dVWYR16m309NzhKi37RDcvv_5iAu4ZA3I_OUGjCGvfSW1jEvV6vm3MsyI3YXMN5BBhA-t_NrtK/s1600/giving+kid+sleappads.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">In 2013, Adrienne helped start a computer lab in Ghana with donated lap top computers and learning games.<br />
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<span xmlns=""><strong>What advice can you give anyone who seeks to start a humanitarian effort as you have done?</strong><br /> </span><br />
<span xmlns="">Don't let anyone tell you that you can't do something and tell everyone your dreams. Someone might know someone who can help. Many people said I would never be able to <strong><em>get</em></strong> donations to Africa. But I did. I talked to practically everybody I met about what I was doing and eventually I met the right person who ships items to Africa. My network is still growing. Sometimes it takes two or three or four conversations with someone for them to hop on board. Now I have a band of volunteers having lots of fun, and shopping flea markets and garage sales for books and clothes for children in need.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdH3BFNxHhV3z3wYga5r7FU6dcXMwfdfWCdUgb8MMiFksmt4L3X8pU-fh4V_vZGtzo1y3HpHh6HoxTAEanWbIQxeVP0KwkxF3jniR-Q4cLskHNUK5xmXhywANTIGxmnJYaldMIoPOJKjxe/s1600/B254oevIYAEGKTb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdH3BFNxHhV3z3wYga5r7FU6dcXMwfdfWCdUgb8MMiFksmt4L3X8pU-fh4V_vZGtzo1y3HpHh6HoxTAEanWbIQxeVP0KwkxF3jniR-Q4cLskHNUK5xmXhywANTIGxmnJYaldMIoPOJKjxe/s1600/B254oevIYAEGKTb.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The new computer in Kenya provided by Painting Brighter Futures. </td></tr>
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<span xmlns="">I recently spoke to a group of high school students living in a slum in Nairobi, Kenya. One girl (pictured right) asked me how they could get a computer – 800 children and not one working computer. Within a week we made it happen! I bought a computer and found someone who could take it with them back to Kenya. Word spread and a few other people have donated their old computers. It is amazing how many things we Americans have, collecting dust in our closets, that could <strong><em> change the lives</em></strong> of others.</span><br />
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<span xmlns=""><strong>What is next for Painting Brighter Futures?</strong><br /> </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNguLIfCeaj5pRnoDR76sEE9EtGMpK0Ffvn6XRaG2A0FkC2_UdtfLr9LeDmdluJP1NxipvKniYybGp1ACELiZDD11YK8RvKVgXkBqNMf8VS5k1OzgyyvIrkRr0eGmf4RvyaTk6zpkdCniQ/s1600/loving+babies+at+Mogra.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNguLIfCeaj5pRnoDR76sEE9EtGMpK0Ffvn6XRaG2A0FkC2_UdtfLr9LeDmdluJP1NxipvKniYybGp1ACELiZDD11YK8RvKVgXkBqNMf8VS5k1OzgyyvIrkRr0eGmf4RvyaTk6zpkdCniQ/s1600/loving+babies+at+Mogra.jpg" height="198" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Adrienne at Mogra Children's Rescue <br />
orphanage in Nairobi, Kenya</td></tr>
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<span xmlns="">I am having a fundraiser at Arlington's Gallery Underground in July and then I plan to take a group of volunteers back to Kenya in September. Each person will bring a suitcase full of diapers, pencils, computers and other donations for a school and orphanage in Mathare, Mogra Star Academy. While there, we will spend time helping care for the babies in the orphanage and help with projects at the school.</span><br />
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<span xmlns=""><strong>What is next for AdrienneArtist?</strong></span><br />
<span xmlns="">I am going to be teaching more art history and painting workshops. In March, I am teaching a workshop on the techniques of J.M.W. Turner at Artists on the Green in Great Falls, VA. I am looking for more venues to bring these classes and workshops to a larger audience.</span><br />
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<span xmlns="">I am also going to paint more mother and baby scenes. I recently created a quick painting of my daughter with a friend's baby. I enjoyed it so much and it has been getting such a great response. This one painting speaks to so many people: young and old, men and women. It really just flowed from my paint brush like nothing I have ever painted before.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHVYwNCj6MfBkM7CrBzNhRLcrcDyRlaNtoh7RHpxjkJuKtHFmWieJYN5YXCISu_wW2ll_mnIm0hI57SbkTyuIg_AfcqQEUVn01Em1J-jefNWnUXIC_Vb26FEBy6t2p8eTmWK1g3gvCwb8T/s1600/wymankralick-a-A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHVYwNCj6MfBkM7CrBzNhRLcrcDyRlaNtoh7RHpxjkJuKtHFmWieJYN5YXCISu_wW2ll_mnIm0hI57SbkTyuIg_AfcqQEUVn01Em1J-jefNWnUXIC_Vb26FEBy6t2p8eTmWK1g3gvCwb8T/s1600/wymankralick-a-A.jpg" height="320" width="244" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Recent mother and child portrait. </td></tr>
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<span xmlns=""> For more information on artist Adrienne Kralick and her non-profit organization visit <a href="http://www.adrienneartist.com/">www.AdrienneArtist.com</a> and <a href="http://www.paintingbrighterfutures.com/">www.paintingbrighterfutures.com</a> .</span><br />
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Adrienne Wymanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04796095624979907031noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2206578766625452340.post-40687236005513771552015-02-24T08:45:00.002-08:002019-03-28T18:53:15.636-07:00Little things Do mean a lot!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;">Our friends at Future Leaders UCC in Ghana just posted pictures of these little reading and writing booklets sent in the last shipment. I am glad that the little booklets mean a lot to them and a little thing like seeing a photo of their smiling faces using the books means a lot to me. I am sharing this with everyone who helped me get the donations to Africa and to everyone who might want to help in the future. We can each do a small thing which can have a big!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxbT44TyReNw-UYB_DNWqjGS_QMESliGFCSCsN6XHJlfOTzpWACCpsOxojE4Uk6nA_1iepCETw7e1LBKUtMgEvEqsADna2Xr0EdRzDXJGZMl-80mL__Cl8kNsvV1mwEpM7Y-V9XPq3se8p/s1600/10984998_786648424723605_3291355795363216870_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxbT44TyReNw-UYB_DNWqjGS_QMESliGFCSCsN6XHJlfOTzpWACCpsOxojE4Uk6nA_1iepCETw7e1LBKUtMgEvEqsADna2Xr0EdRzDXJGZMl-80mL__Cl8kNsvV1mwEpM7Y-V9XPq3se8p/s1600/10984998_786648424723605_3291355795363216870_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I picked up these handwriting books at the Five Below store in Northern Virginia and here they are helping the kids At Future Leaders UCC Ghana learn to write. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXiXd9X8VVrkxvt40sQbxU-ae0buGYTsZk-Dc1idOSqoySaQ_3OL89lCWk1enLkhuiAILWGywj-JuImCXUbp36iblgjR39T4WH955H4BNoZqPc-PeAF-r9IIL9-Zysq6y8ugleRXjyU996/s1600/1002696_786648338056947_9007460509235162441_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXiXd9X8VVrkxvt40sQbxU-ae0buGYTsZk-Dc1idOSqoySaQ_3OL89lCWk1enLkhuiAILWGywj-JuImCXUbp36iblgjR39T4WH955H4BNoZqPc-PeAF-r9IIL9-Zysq6y8ugleRXjyU996/s1600/1002696_786648338056947_9007460509235162441_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On my first trip to Ghana there were no workbooks and I had to write letter dots on scraps of paper for the kids trace.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP2YaHIAQEB3uTXhS20poLttP9Z5G11qkMvEDOB4LVzjyby5DK3rk0dNz1agAARLvC6O_7BNPnN7X0wr595-RNfgLJGVBjPT9I1nzQOw5cOpm7a5Haic44TKWPrkLB3a1iFrb62FAoH47A/s1600/10995826_786648594723588_5845759198016950440_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP2YaHIAQEB3uTXhS20poLttP9Z5G11qkMvEDOB4LVzjyby5DK3rk0dNz1agAARLvC6O_7BNPnN7X0wr595-RNfgLJGVBjPT9I1nzQOw5cOpm7a5Haic44TKWPrkLB3a1iFrb62FAoH47A/s1600/10995826_786648594723588_5845759198016950440_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These phonics books were rescued from a pile about to go to the recycle bin at a public school in Manasas, Virginia.<br />
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Please consider doing a little thing today to help children living in desperate poverty in Ghana and Kenya. Buy a pack of pencils, crayons or writing booklets next time you are at the store. Or, make a donation via Paypal to help us purchase books and pay for shipping. Every little bit helps.<br />
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Thank you!</td></tr>
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Adrienne Wymanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04796095624979907031noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2206578766625452340.post-23246994895120683602015-02-22T09:52:00.003-08:002015-02-22T09:59:23.297-08:00A Path Appears opens a window to life in a Nairobi slum.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I watch <a href="http://apathappears.org/film/" target="_blank">A Path Appears</a> last night and was brought back to Nairobi, Kenya. Like Mia Farrow and Nicholas Kristoff, I drove down those crowded dirt roads. I walked those muddy paths and heard those beautiful children sing! What an honor it was to meet such brave and determined children. I was humbled by them. What do you say when a child sleeping on the floor of a one room shack, with 8 other people, no running water or electricity asks you what your greatest hardship is in life. I was speechless. How do I dare mention my trivial hardships, my "first world" problems, like: I am searching for more meaning in my life or I am lonely in my big empty house, while my husbands travels with his job and my children are away at University. I can't.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">If you want to understand why I am determined to help, please watch Episode 3 of A Path Appears. Mia and Ronan Farrow <span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.4500007629395px;">visit Shining Hope for Communities, an organization working for change in Kibera, one of the worst slums in the country — and the world. Home to hundreds of thousands of people, Kibera is a neighbor slum to Mathare, where I visited Mogra Star Academy. Like Mathare, Kibera has limited power and running water. I am in awe of </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.4500007629395px;">Kennedy Odede and his wife, Jessica Posner Odede who opened the Kibera School for Girls, which aims to provide the area’s most at-risk young girls with a path out of poverty and abuse. Kennedy reminds me of my friend Billa Mahmud in Teshie Ghana, who also grew up in the most difficult conditions only to dedicate his life to helping children like him live a better life. </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.4500007629395px;">I have the most respect for people like them who are making a real difference in the world.</span></span></div>
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Adrienne Wymanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04796095624979907031noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2206578766625452340.post-63526922405147985962014-12-31T11:57:00.002-08:002016-11-08T03:05:51.561-08:00Some Highlights of 2014.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: #828282; font-family: volkov; text-align: left;">Highlights from 2014</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 19.2000007629395px;">We got our first large donation from a foundation! Now we are well on the way to buying the land for a school for these children. Billa has friends like me in the UK, Norway, Germany and the Netherlands all trying to help! It is a small world after all. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsZR7mDdktkzKDY914QDil6M415dg-Ck8DY9flOKcXuG3ChQIB1LGXD7Mz_Mb4sogUS7amvdDSoFFmgpRskXQOSjuQSKwn7VEz_24yMLDIDpEQdJpHAkvgfLOQ7C1H75wuFHxi281b8eWw/s1600/10360546_663424223712693_1709971240234585847_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsZR7mDdktkzKDY914QDil6M415dg-Ck8DY9flOKcXuG3ChQIB1LGXD7Mz_Mb4sogUS7amvdDSoFFmgpRskXQOSjuQSKwn7VEz_24yMLDIDpEQdJpHAkvgfLOQ7C1H75wuFHxi281b8eWw/s1600/10360546_663424223712693_1709971240234585847_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Now all of these children come to his center every day. Here they are <br />
standing on the land where he plans to build a school.</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIqqQM4zV_JzRLMD9hSiigaPoC3QqDVWXA4PK8fRiTKW9c1X_tHQrz-rQ_4ww1gUp5qMvZFVUsRMEpB1Lg2dpESBe3fpCrPu0l3Dq4XtQne_PL-TJJYpqOyi1HjPDmJrwc82-cZVzhIIH0/s1600/428391_554799301230106_648190854_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIqqQM4zV_JzRLMD9hSiigaPoC3QqDVWXA4PK8fRiTKW9c1X_tHQrz-rQ_4ww1gUp5qMvZFVUsRMEpB1Lg2dpESBe3fpCrPu0l3Dq4XtQne_PL-TJJYpqOyi1HjPDmJrwc82-cZVzhIIH0/s1600/428391_554799301230106_648190854_n.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Billa started teaching 5 kids under<br />
this Mango tree in 1995.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 19.2000007629395px; text-align: left;">Also in 2014, I traveled to Kenya and visited the Mogra orphanage and school, I was so impressed with them that I have added them to our network of worthy causes to help.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaEuE1yX13UPnZbIYjT5EYfcfLcwWFwCrG4FBd7DBb2-EbqunCxDen85MP9VvSxyNl51hfIJ-LK-C-KTmC3mAzA3JwEbNy3AjJOAk8DGl0EvV5aX8QhXc-EhMJPYIqu8J1vQjRo1XvfPQl/s1600/2014+India+and+Kenya+1624.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaEuE1yX13UPnZbIYjT5EYfcfLcwWFwCrG4FBd7DBb2-EbqunCxDen85MP9VvSxyNl51hfIJ-LK-C-KTmC3mAzA3JwEbNy3AjJOAk8DGl0EvV5aX8QhXc-EhMJPYIqu8J1vQjRo1XvfPQl/s1600/2014+India+and+Kenya+1624.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br /><span style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 19.2000007629395px;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">We sent a motor scooter to Future Leaders UCC in Teshie, Ghana.</span></span></h4>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFDYk7JvyzFsGCQCWaWfdibcq0Vy14qIg0_ZAVGBYvv-br6Oc75rY7VIGrz9uVO6wdGUQZPi1WkydElF4RFLH0OurCfuKfAIBxnxmupy4D_-s8xt0Un_0K-f8FY2iJk9ZmH8k4yMu_8j6J/s1600/Billa's%2Bnew%2Bscooter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFDYk7JvyzFsGCQCWaWfdibcq0Vy14qIg0_ZAVGBYvv-br6Oc75rY7VIGrz9uVO6wdGUQZPi1WkydElF4RFLH0OurCfuKfAIBxnxmupy4D_-s8xt0Un_0K-f8FY2iJk9ZmH8k4yMu_8j6J/s1600/Billa's%2Bnew%2Bscooter.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Here I am giving Daniel the scooter to ship.. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFn3akZwE_g9ux2_TC_NIYfypiDYZdN1ZpNOcoqO4OhlmsvM3FKiyUqsmSKB83fn5bPapOicf4AZRbET8l3yw7JVbzOJ_OrJjIVnRYIfVumqCd58hrrLzpKUVZqjs8reIUZY6w8LK5Iy-D/s1600/10822169_10204351427299880_2082464859_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFn3akZwE_g9ux2_TC_NIYfypiDYZdN1ZpNOcoqO4OhlmsvM3FKiyUqsmSKB83fn5bPapOicf4AZRbET8l3yw7JVbzOJ_OrJjIVnRYIfVumqCd58hrrLzpKUVZqjs8reIUZY6w8LK5Iy-D/s1600/10822169_10204351427299880_2082464859_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Billa will use the scooter to get around and visit the ladies </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">who have received micro loans.</span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">and found a wheel chair for Kwadwoa's sister in a village near Kumasi Ghana.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZt2naXm1lJoh76TQE1hV6SQ4xABSebB1_xN555rpnGM7inkkG1ii8yL7OLetaHU6fGgsJNxOjj4tveaAJLzlrWzVmh-iTnkQGdbHMl7Pz0sJFm4c8pQWcaQcf-9-lFchBSQguXTfloYgd/s1600/wheelchair.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZt2naXm1lJoh76TQE1hV6SQ4xABSebB1_xN555rpnGM7inkkG1ii8yL7OLetaHU6fGgsJNxOjj4tveaAJLzlrWzVmh-iTnkQGdbHMl7Pz0sJFm4c8pQWcaQcf-9-lFchBSQguXTfloYgd/s1600/wheelchair.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMu5q3M568DAjLpO9oaHXqxQomay_R8k7uJFazx7Dg-p7GgZfIenclHCoVDSRzQ4cmVMIM8KdpQI_bIEzt8ZaQtIVbWceEdbbg_yh2xXJeuUkQbIxWQBPSUasR6fhSva0KdYRhid9HRDye/s1600/get-attachment+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMu5q3M568DAjLpO9oaHXqxQomay_R8k7uJFazx7Dg-p7GgZfIenclHCoVDSRzQ4cmVMIM8KdpQI_bIEzt8ZaQtIVbWceEdbbg_yh2xXJeuUkQbIxWQBPSUasR6fhSva0KdYRhid9HRDye/s1600/get-attachment+(1).jpg" width="112" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 19.2000007629395px;">We sent pencils to the young children at Mogra Star Academy the Mathare slum of Nairobi, Kenya.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAlETHQRKL2Q_F3Vlps9gY-H-3SjuYHQiLb4L1y9APg7VnCxGMfwLZDskLosv4z2YFvq2yXnwVmjvXQzrAbG-w_VAv21yLcb1v7kAEE2G2BIWyTC74nLNKuET1LxGHsu74dy1KZWI-Ue1Z/s1600/1898075_1516035371998615_5617110840958087773_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAlETHQRKL2Q_F3Vlps9gY-H-3SjuYHQiLb4L1y9APg7VnCxGMfwLZDskLosv4z2YFvq2yXnwVmjvXQzrAbG-w_VAv21yLcb1v7kAEE2G2BIWyTC74nLNKuET1LxGHsu74dy1KZWI-Ue1Z/s1600/1898075_1516035371998615_5617110840958087773_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small; font-weight: normal; line-height: 19.2000007629395px;">and a computer to for the students at Mogra Star Academy,</span></div>
<h3>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdb9kca8lhNY51CnDCFMCF7IC_9ALUOcR7aJrSnzMIxAIpvLvpRsOIPiUNTAdWWBk9cRLWNqRQLrlTWvZo7ez-UwFg4J8TyFZfQBQnlen56O27Ap_-SHs8mequZtKY48Y-YB-WXXY8lhXT/s1600/15915_1516035015331984_2312681846581902146_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdb9kca8lhNY51CnDCFMCF7IC_9ALUOcR7aJrSnzMIxAIpvLvpRsOIPiUNTAdWWBk9cRLWNqRQLrlTWvZo7ez-UwFg4J8TyFZfQBQnlen56O27Ap_-SHs8mequZtKY48Y-YB-WXXY8lhXT/s1600/15915_1516035015331984_2312681846581902146_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">800 children attend school in the Nairobi slum and there was not One single computer. Now they have Two. I hope to find a generous computer company to donate enough for a computer class. That will really make a difference in the lives of these children. </span><br />
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<span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 19.2000007629395px;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 19.2000007629395px;">and diapers for the babies at the orphanage</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 19.2000007629395px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAA2EYmykgxtdoajSkyNPxh0MIPs6O0AGe0gjxWigAOwud5gEyS5aqE_AI7Wwa1jOjfQJb4aBNX2diPsmDOM6Na8whmoHDCZbUrwIFlMUsKr8VnUerP4dg0iodFTddkrRFGyNpQ4Gnz5ZH/s1600/2014+India+and+Kenya+1506.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAA2EYmykgxtdoajSkyNPxh0MIPs6O0AGe0gjxWigAOwud5gEyS5aqE_AI7Wwa1jOjfQJb4aBNX2diPsmDOM6Na8whmoHDCZbUrwIFlMUsKr8VnUerP4dg0iodFTddkrRFGyNpQ4Gnz5ZH/s1600/2014+India+and+Kenya+1506.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></span></span></div>
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.</span></span></span>We collected sewing machines from friends for the vocational sewing center at Future Leaders.</span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIATPfIcuTLgfUnmLIBxu3OAu9EhfzhKcA9CS_Frht4CObwwSx0Jf-_PAhnFPyTjrWuoXu5hCm-pvteejVc7nzjzzZ3ZHi7UYd6UN4kbjwebWGpVyIMAcC1go_ggK3W8CPWLZ6Nv9hsyFz/s1600/DSCN1631.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIATPfIcuTLgfUnmLIBxu3OAu9EhfzhKcA9CS_Frht4CObwwSx0Jf-_PAhnFPyTjrWuoXu5hCm-pvteejVc7nzjzzZ3ZHi7UYd6UN4kbjwebWGpVyIMAcC1go_ggK3W8CPWLZ6Nv9hsyFz/s1600/DSCN1631.JPG" width="200" /></a><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSUD351bqFoIa330vsvJkI3X9oom2LsK7Os_BsDBjesDYqb-QCWRZqWYxbhbAjF_vkjVvdii_aNgnAaHTy9ygTj8S0_-aQ8GDM7qGlpwePcktnIKXjlKH_6YDnkGY3jHGkfz3k0pwSUpF9/s1600/DSCN1571.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSUD351bqFoIa330vsvJkI3X9oom2LsK7Os_BsDBjesDYqb-QCWRZqWYxbhbAjF_vkjVvdii_aNgnAaHTy9ygTj8S0_-aQ8GDM7qGlpwePcktnIKXjlKH_6YDnkGY3jHGkfz3k0pwSUpF9/s1600/DSCN1571.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Anne Marquis just kept showing up day <br />with more great stuff</span>.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT11pePWFokkvXQ6DWP1wwjea8BS7QQfEZ5ZRzC9BIXmLYu47JL43cgDXDbwSfRic8poWdAp7QSOwfHMmRXatP1vIXZ94LyUvqaRWysJjcUZUdtMMKE0-K75QJAvgDFn6TYQrYZ0pM3783/s1600/10583979_680221222032993_5065898380039679745_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT11pePWFokkvXQ6DWP1wwjea8BS7QQfEZ5ZRzC9BIXmLYu47JL43cgDXDbwSfRic8poWdAp7QSOwfHMmRXatP1vIXZ94LyUvqaRWysJjcUZUdtMMKE0-K75QJAvgDFn6TYQrYZ0pM3783/s1600/10583979_680221222032993_5065898380039679745_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Here women learn a trade for free and are required to pass it and empower other women in their community.</span></td></tr>
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What started as one phone call to rescue textbooks from the recycle bin at a local elementary school grew and grew until my garage was packed full of donations bound for Africa. One schools trash is another schools treasure.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU_itoMm2HglDG47CARPnOETVCMe_NwxUhOE2_Sr3vJ26vN4DmvVa7yG8VBvuTddwBF-iHVezdDUlMzkwZcoaGKkdwVABDtRzB_wVz6Z9alzpuQ0_4hLvv1E5qsWr6bF8qV4LDFdOQ62UP/s1600/pics+off+camera+summer+2014+167.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU_itoMm2HglDG47CARPnOETVCMe_NwxUhOE2_Sr3vJ26vN4DmvVa7yG8VBvuTddwBF-iHVezdDUlMzkwZcoaGKkdwVABDtRzB_wVz6Z9alzpuQ0_4hLvv1E5qsWr6bF8qV4LDFdOQ62UP/s1600/pics+off+camera+summer+2014+167.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx_BRSFpCSkrAouwNxUGuO04NrCZSUTnRM774x3FQjoBDxTnbDNAqcTDr_p-Pup0AC_Wx9hRPHktMhFsJXpnj86_T-SJOjJbNr09ml6GbyzTh_OPL5QRcT3Bp0x0ioU1KY8DwrMPbqwKhn/s1600/donmation+in+garage+2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx_BRSFpCSkrAouwNxUGuO04NrCZSUTnRM774x3FQjoBDxTnbDNAqcTDr_p-Pup0AC_Wx9hRPHktMhFsJXpnj86_T-SJOjJbNr09ml6GbyzTh_OPL5QRcT3Bp0x0ioU1KY8DwrMPbqwKhn/s1600/donmation+in+garage+2014.jpg" width="200" /></a> It took a village (or a neighborhood) to get everything sorted boxed and delivered.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My neighbor Tom Smith loaned his truck.</span></td></tr>
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During the summer our network of volunteers grew into a team of angels collecting donations.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXCgNSY9UStQ0Vlmyn22gDB23YUOBSI8xz8Cp-Bhnh2XQ1Vjt-BgOGmc_7pGv7wrPojooqYkI20Fveg8QuY4I3IoZTEgQrElTJkM-Up0chvTWAUpT2wihXWSTv3jm6Fa077LN-hS0zJWUb/s1600/get-attachment.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXCgNSY9UStQ0Vlmyn22gDB23YUOBSI8xz8Cp-Bhnh2XQ1Vjt-BgOGmc_7pGv7wrPojooqYkI20Fveg8QuY4I3IoZTEgQrElTJkM-Up0chvTWAUpT2wihXWSTv3jm6Fa077LN-hS0zJWUb/s1600/get-attachment.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Retired school teacher Marge Buzelli found school supplies.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1nKolo7rSicno12Dm-1CS76j923Sit_9OOiT-2cnw_NFVDq6qoh3phkUkLxe54TnyfofiNoQV-OzK20XdU3jwC7Mhh0apt6vlvvrnj3iLdQKRvLglVq55oNgu3SjoORL-1XH-Ndwh1Ef2/s1600/10635782_328964910613211_1187220329678241904_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1nKolo7rSicno12Dm-1CS76j923Sit_9OOiT-2cnw_NFVDq6qoh3phkUkLxe54TnyfofiNoQV-OzK20XdU3jwC7Mhh0apt6vlvvrnj3iLdQKRvLglVq55oNgu3SjoORL-1XH-Ndwh1Ef2/s1600/10635782_328964910613211_1187220329678241904_n.jpg" width="191" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Oakton teens helped sort through clothes.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Gail bought school supplies and sewing notions.</span></td></tr>
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Before long I was getting calls from several Fairfax County public schools to pick up their lost and found items.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxwDHqECHXRxipBStIRsy_dk1mvjXd7rc5KzHn03HyIu_i9BOX5e8FZrr93eU7I4pabPhvhaaJSVekzQJdmCSILL1WUJwI3EZhWOIoJvB9Pk8SNcsBEH0wKxaAcCp5fh_l44psULBJSNRM/s1600/lost+and+found+Baldwin+elementary.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxwDHqECHXRxipBStIRsy_dk1mvjXd7rc5KzHn03HyIu_i9BOX5e8FZrr93eU7I4pabPhvhaaJSVekzQJdmCSILL1WUJwI3EZhWOIoJvB9Pk8SNcsBEH0wKxaAcCp5fh_l44psULBJSNRM/s1600/lost+and+found+Baldwin+elementary.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Carloads full at each school. Now I had more than I could use for the shipment to Africa so......</span></td></tr>
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Light weight clothes went to Africa, Some coats went to The Closet in Reston, Virginia which helps needy families. Mof the warm coats went to help refugee families arriving from Darfur. It is pretty cold here in the winter compared to East Africa.<br />
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Sameaia, pictured here, even took some school supplies with her to a village school in Sudan. The network is growing and growing and growing!<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">TaDa</span>...everything arrived safe and sound in West Africa!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCpPGsaeojADPPnxnEgoKRhniQexeDeEMXzYSbZVkOsTnGY6NhEVeWz431263M11ABZz27wgaxp0UC8kBw2aJ89VNZjvgCufpzPlgTH4zTZQt-k5D51x8G1UQc0emWM04DPpqId3u1m106/s1600/10815712_10204329194424072_1460317934_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCpPGsaeojADPPnxnEgoKRhniQexeDeEMXzYSbZVkOsTnGY6NhEVeWz431263M11ABZz27wgaxp0UC8kBw2aJ89VNZjvgCufpzPlgTH4zTZQt-k5D51x8G1UQc0emWM04DPpqId3u1m106/s1600/10815712_10204329194424072_1460317934_n.jpg" width="291" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I found these promotional back packs at a</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">school lost and found.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR9hw9rB-2-1eRHjdEuGtjZw8x5nDLnMClrD4mlKOWCJ4q1R6l2J3WjX1KWEX5bAmf4Ho9Symr5_mZDoGHNXVd0GGiO6R4QUecXelDbcAsZeQ9zao_8lIN5pQc3IJ8oSI_w1FZYWGpAsGJ/s1600/1469910_382164948626540_8690567426911858861_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR9hw9rB-2-1eRHjdEuGtjZw8x5nDLnMClrD4mlKOWCJ4q1R6l2J3WjX1KWEX5bAmf4Ho9Symr5_mZDoGHNXVd0GGiO6R4QUecXelDbcAsZeQ9zao_8lIN5pQc3IJ8oSI_w1FZYWGpAsGJ/s1600/1469910_382164948626540_8690567426911858861_n.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The kids in Ghana got them for awards. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Here the sewing machines are getting a tune up before the</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">women at the sewing center put them to use.</span></td></tr>
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More pictures to come! Boy this blogging takes time and there is so much to do.....Happy New Year!<br />
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If you would like to donate for a 2014 tax deduction, here is the paypal link or send a check to Painting Brighter Futures- IWDC at 3113 Fox Mill Rd, Oakton, Va 22124<br />
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I just received word that my new charity, Mogra Children's Rescue has received the diapers and donations I just sent. Here's the story....</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me with the precious babies at Mogra Orphanage.</td></tr>
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Two weeks ago, I joined my husband Ken on a business trip to Nairobi, Kenya; he was meeting with the phone company Airtel. Shortly after we arrived, we ran into some of his colleagues in the hotel lounge, where Ken brought up the idea that I was hoping to spend some time volunteering with a school or orphanage while there. Olga, an IBM expat from Columbia, living in Kenya, excitedly ran over to introduce me to her friend and neighbor Mark. Mark is an Australian expat working for Airtel. Mark had the perfect connection for me. It ends up that Airtel sponsors the food program at a school in the Mathare slum and Francis, Mark's partner, volunteers there. Olga was kind enough to include me in the dinner that night, so that Francis and I could meet and made a plan to go to Mogra school and orphanage the following day.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There was a traffic jam on the road which gave me time to take in the sights.</td></tr>
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Francis and his driver David picked me up the next morning and we drove out to Mathare to visit the school Mogra Star Academy and then to the Mogra Orphange. There is so much to say about the meaningful experiences I had at the school; but for today, I will talk just about the orphanage visit. Which, by the way, Ken had lightheartedly had warned Francis against taking me to. He was afraid I would bring home a baby. He often reminds me that I can help more children if I don't adopt one. He knows how strong my maternal feelings can be.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: left;">As you can see from the pictures, I had a wonderful day with the babies. </span></td></tr>
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Francis prefers to work with teens and older children so it was a real gift to me, that he joined me in the nursery that day and then again, when I wanted to go back for a second day.<br />
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Before heading back to Mogra for the second visit, we stopped at a local store to buy diapers. Diapers are expensive in Kenya. I don't know how the orphanage does it. It is funded only by the kindness of others. I made a mental note to get more diapers and baby clothes for Mogra when I got back to the US.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Poor Francis has to go shopping with me for diapers and wipes for the babies and sanitary pads for the teenage girls living at the orphanage, what a great guy!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">David, Mark's driver put the boxes in the trunk. None of this would have been possible without him, and Francis and Mark! You guys all ROCK!</span><br />
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David even got in on the fun and played with the babies.</div>
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While at Mogra, I met Susan Armstrong, a nurse from the US embassy, who was teaching First Aid. I asked her is she had any ideas of how I could get donations back to Kenya from the US. She told me that her husband Russell, was in fact, going back to the US and may be able to help. When I got home I contacted Russell and we arranged a day to meet. Now that I had a deadline the wheels were set in motion.<br />
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I headed out to Costco to buy diapers. But first, I stopped to drop off a thank you gift to the Keneficks, who had recently bought the wheelchair for a woman in Ghana. I was so excioted about my trip that I could not help but tell them all about the kids in Kenya. Judy then generously donated $100 to help buy the diapers, in her grandson Ian's name as part of his confirmation gift. This web of generosity is infectious. Not only, did they buy the wheelchair and donate the money but now they are helping the women in the wheelchair get physical therapy advice to help her transition to her new chair. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Diapers were a fraction of the cost at Costco than they were in Kenya. I tried to buy as much as I could while keeping the weight of my suitcase under 50 ponds per the airline specifications.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">We keep old suitcases around just for this type of occasion. I filled as much as I could and even had a scinece poster left over to include from the last shipment to Ghana</span></td></tr>
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On Saturday morning Ken and I met Russell and his beautiful daughter at the Gaylord Hotel at The National Harbor. What a joy it was meeting this wonderful kind hearted family. They even helped nurse a baby from the orphanage back to health and are now in the process of adopting her.<br />
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The girls who live at the children's home with the donations.<br />
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Here it is, our old suitcase full of diapers, back in the same room where I loved those sweet babies just two weeks ago. I love it when a plan comes together.<br />
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Look for a post to come about the new computer for the school! Thank you so much to everyone who made this possible: the Armstrong family, Francis, David, Mark, Olga the Keneficks and my husband Ken.</div>
Adrienne Wymanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04796095624979907031noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2206578766625452340.post-29211971692702621562014-10-29T08:20:00.002-07:002014-10-29T08:23:31.494-07:00A gift of a wheelchair arrives in Ghana! <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I have a fabulous heart warming story to share. This confirms my new motto; Tell everyone your dreams and they can come true!</div>
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Meet Marge Buzzelli, a retired school teacher. I told her about my project to help find books for the kids in Ghana and she just went crazy, in a great way; calling her friends at local schools asking for for donations. Well, while we were picking up donations at Wolftrap Elementary, we met Kwado, who works at the school and who is from Ghana. So of course I had to torture him with my attempt to speak Twi, and chat about Ghana. As we were leaving. He quietly mentioned that he was looking for a wheelchair for his sister back in a village in Ghana. Without hesitating, I said, "We'll get you one". I remembered that there were plenty around when I needed one for my father in law to use at my daughter's graduation. So Marge and I put the world out. Marge was determined to find one and called several friends.</div>
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The next thing I knew, Marge's friends Judy and Frank Kenefick showed up at my house with a wheelchair. That actually bought a wheelchair on Craiglist, for a person they did not know. Heck they didn't even know me. Aren't they Amazing!<br />
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Here is Kwado, with the wheelchair when I brought it to him at Wolf Trap Elementary. While there I was chatting with Diane Long the school assistant and she offered to send out a message to other Fairfax County schools to see if they had lost and found items to donate. Yikes, did they. That is a long story for another blog but I will give you a hint that one email will end up providing coats and clothes from many kids in need from India to Darfur and the USA.</div>
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Here is Kwado's sister Adwoa <span style="font-size: x-small;">(she has the same Ghanaian name as me, Monday born)</span> with her new wheelchair and her children! She and her family are so happy. Ghanaians don't tend to have big toothy smiles in pictures like we do but trust me, she is very happy.</div>
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If you look at her legs you can tell that she has been crawling in the dirt since she became paralyzed from an illness at age 3. She has been crawling since age 3 and now she can sit in a chair! See how we can all make big a difference in someone else's life. Bless you and thank you so much Judy and Frank Kenefick and Marge Buzzelli. Isn't giving Fun!</div>
Adrienne Wymanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04796095624979907031noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2206578766625452340.post-43944624687400483152014-10-20T23:10:00.002-07:002014-10-20T23:10:34.624-07:00A World of opportunities to help!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I am quickly writing this post from our hotel room in Nairobi, Kenya waiting for my new friend Francis to pick me up and take me to an orphanage and school where he volunteers. I am anxious to meet the children and the school's director to see if there is a way I can help them. The project is having a snowball effect. I am meeting and connecting kind hearted people all over the world. I am so excited a bout the connection I made in Delhi with the assistant manager on the Trident Hotel. We are going to work together to hand out the coats I have collected from the Fairfax County public school's lost and founds, to the children living on the streets and in the slums. When I get home I will be calling more schools to pick up the clothes kids have discarded or forgotten and get them onto the backs of kids who can't live without them.<br />
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More later, so happy to be busy and helpful again!</div>
Adrienne Wymanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04796095624979907031noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2206578766625452340.post-86946832315317190312014-10-07T19:23:00.001-07:002014-10-07T19:28:23.751-07:00The shipment has sailed!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I am so excited. I just heard from Daniel (pictured here) that the shipment has sailed for Africa and should arrive in Ghana by the end of the month. YAY. I have been saving Ken's frequent flyer points for just this occasion. I am hoping (fingers crossed) that I can fly to Ghana and be there to help unload the container and distribute the donations. </div>
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I saved the best for last with a motor scooter for Billa Mahmud, founder of Future Leaders UCC. He does not have a car so now he will be able to scoot around the dirt roads to visit all the women who have been given microloans. The final count was 81 boxes containing: 8 sewing machines, 2 computers, clothes, shoes, backpacks, toys, a blender, schools supplies, text books, reading books, fabric, sewing notions, power converters, a filing cabinet and a motor scooter and more. I can't wait to see everything in Ghana!</div>
Adrienne Wymanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04796095624979907031noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2206578766625452340.post-78220297090981636882014-09-09T08:29:00.000-07:002014-09-09T15:19:44.201-07:00A new chapter in life<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Like everyone else I am trying to settle back into a routine after the summer is over. Painting, Framing, Photographing and Posting. As and artist, the painting is the easy part and I have to practically strap myself to my office chair to get the posting and uploading done.<br />
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The light is beautiful here by this big window in my family room. </div>
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But sometimes I just have to go outside to paint.</div>
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I have finished and varnished this painting. I am just waiting for the frame I ordered to arrive. I have about 10 paintings that are in the final stages of completion. </div>
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I tagged along on one of Ken's business trips to London last week. I loved it there and spent the days immersed in art museums. But, as usual, wherever I go, Ghana is never far from my mind. Even though I didn't find anyone to practice speaking Twi with I was able to talk on the phone with Karen Tooley of the Future leaders UK. She is a teacher in Birmingham, England and spends a month in Ghana each year. She was able to give me more insight into Billa and confirm what I already knew that he is an amazing honest, entrepreneurial man who is using all his energy to help others.<br />
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By the end of the summer we had staged 78 boxes of donations at the storage unit waiting to head to Ghana including; 8 sewing machines, 2 computers, chargers, adapters, text books, reading books,school supplies, shoes, clothes and more....<br />
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My son Stephen (in the orange VTech t-shirt) joined us to bring another load of books and school supplies to the storage unit in Woodbridge, the last stop before we load everything on a shipping container going to Africa. Then he was off to start his second year at Virginia Tech. He really enjoyed meeting Daniel. Stephen went to Ghana to visit his sister Alexandra for spring break of his senior year at Oakton High School. When I asked him what the best part of his trip was, he said "Meeting Billa and hearing his story about starting a school for needy children under a mango tree". That was one of the things that inspired me to make my first trip to Africa. That, plus the fact that I missed my daughter and wanted to see her life in Africa.<br />
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Before I headed off to London, my friend<br />
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The heavy clothes and winter coats got a blue stripe on the bag. I wasn't sure what I was going to do with them until I met some women from Sudan while I was picking up donations at Wolftrap Elementary. Just last night those two women picked up 8 huge bags of really nice winter coats that will be going to refugee families arriving from Darfur who have no winter clothes for their children. These coats were really nice. Now a child has one less thing to worry about when arriving at a new school in a new county. He or she will be warm and look cool in a new North Face jacket or Abercrombie sweat shirt. I think it is an interesting circle because it was in a history class at Oakton high school where this all began. My daughter became fascinated by Africa, Darfur in particular and she knew that one day she would go there. I never would have dreamed that I too would go to Africa and make helping children there my life's mission. Life is funny. I think it is so beautiful how our children enrich our lives in ways we never expect. If we encourage them to find themselves and follow their own path in life they may end up showing us a new path to follow in our own lives when that chapter of motherhood is over. Thanks Alexandra!<br />
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My easels is calling my name so I am off to paint now. :)<br />
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Adrienne Wymanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04796095624979907031noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2206578766625452340.post-81511507528102129142014-08-28T11:09:00.000-07:002014-08-28T11:09:00.907-07:00The Lost and Found Lady<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Just when I got all of the books out of the garage, (78 boxes are now at the storage unit waiting for the shipping day) I started to get calls from local elementary schools that they had bags of clothes and coats to donate from their Lost and Found. And when I say bags, I mean bags and bags and bags of great stuff. There were even brand new shoes! </div>
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I am taking out the lightweight jackets and clothes, washing them and then packing them to go to Africa. Luckily the ship has not sailed yet so I will be able to bring these to the container on loading day.<br />
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But what do I do with the heavy winter clothes? Yesterday, I got a call from a local children's charity and I was planning to give them the winter coats, hats and gloves until I found out that they just turn around and SELL them to a store which them SELLS them to the needy. Oh, no, you don't. These clothes were GIVEN to me for free and will be GIVEN to the needy for FREE.<br />
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But where do I find people who need winter clothes. Then Voila, just today, I just met two women from Darfur while they were picking up school supplies from the same school as I for a village school they are helping back in Darfur. We starting chatting, I had recently read the book <i>What is the What</i> by Dave Eggers, a memoir about one of the Lost Boys of Sudan, and was able to speak with some knowledge about the hardships of refugees in South Sudan. These women know a great many refugee families who arrive in America with little more than the clothes on their backs and NEED winter clothes for their kids. BINGO! The winter clolthes have found a new home. The lightweight clothes go to needy kids in Africa and the heavy weight clothes go to Africans living in America, how apropos!<br />
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Time to start sorting and washing!<br />
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Adrienne Wymanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04796095624979907031noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2206578766625452340.post-15170406952710071102014-08-11T17:55:00.004-07:002014-08-11T18:05:31.997-07:00Generosity is Contagious<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
There was a lot of "Giving Back" and "Paying it Forward" in Northern Virginia last week.<br />
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On Wednesday night - Frank and Judy Kenefick bought a wheelchair on Craigslist for a man they had never met. Kwadwo is the custodian at Wolf Trap Elementary School and has been looking for a wheelchair for his sister back in Ghana.<br />
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<span style="text-align: left;">On Friday morning - I brought the wheelchair to Wolf Trap Elementary. Kwadwo has a contact who ships to Ghana monthly. So, his sister in Kumasi will get the wheelchair quicker than waiting for my shipment which is going through Accra. And, now, I have another contact for shipping donations to Africa. :) </span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">Diane Long, who works in the school's office, decided to send out a notice to other elementary schools in the area, letting them know that I was collecting their extra books and supplies to send to a school in need in Africa. </span>Well, an hour later, I got a call from White Oaks Elementary School in Burke, Virginia. They had donations too! </span><span style="text-align: center;">While I was driving to Burke to pick up their donations, Gail Magnani dropped off a wonderful selection of sewing needles and notions to be packed with the sewing machines.You rock Gail!</span></span></div>
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On Saturday morning, I ran out to meet a woman who had children's clothes to donate. I just had met her the day before and we struck up a random conversation about charities. The next thing I know she is offering to clean out her grandchildren's closets and she did!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br />On the way home I stopped at a garage sale and found a computer monitor and keyboard for sale so I quickly grabbed them. While I was numbering the boxes and putting bright pink duct tape on them so they could easily be spotted in the container, </span><span style="text-align: left;">Marge Buzzelli, pulls up with her grandchildren's old bicycles. We are going to give them to Daniel, my shipping contact, because he also sends bikes to Ghana.</span></span></td></tr>
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A few minutes later, Daniel calls to say that he is at the storage unit and could I bring the boxes right away. Yikes, my husband Ken woke up covered in poison ivy and we were hoping to take him to the doctor for a quick steroid shot before packing the truck. Well, that had to wait. We quickly sprayed some calamine on Ken's wounds and filled our car and our neighbor Tom's truck with as many boxes as we could a<span style="text-align: center;">nd headed off to Public Storage in Woodbrige, VA.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tom and Ken filling the truck.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tom and Ken unloading the truck.</td></tr>
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We dropped off 59 boxes</div>
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but the garage is still pretty full of donations yet to be packed.</div>
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Luckily Daniel agreed to wait one more week so that I can get the rest of the boxes to him. Whew. It was a busy weekend.</div>
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Adrienne Wymanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04796095624979907031noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2206578766625452340.post-69542631324106444642014-08-05T20:07:00.004-07:002014-08-05T20:18:16.035-07:00Women in America are Helping Women in Africa<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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This is really becoming a community project. I love it when people stop by to help or bring donations. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My neighbor Lynda MacGregor came over and helped pack boxes of books.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gail Magnani inspects the sewing machines to see what types of needle they need.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gail bought 10 brand new backpacks and lots of school supplies. She received this limited edition print as a thank you gift for her donation.</td></tr>
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Jewelry and Fiber Artist Donna Barnako donated to purchase the power converters needed to get the machines working in Africa. Thanks Donna!<br />
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Every day I seem to get one Ghanaian experience. When the recycling truck arrived I could tell that one of the drives looked Ghanaian, and he was. He was excited to see my garage full of donations going to help the poor children in his county. We chatted a bit and I tried to impress him with my limited vocabulary in Twi. I must step up my lessons if I am going back this Fall.<br />
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So it was a good day on the America to Africa front.<br />
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Adrienne Wymanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04796095624979907031noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2206578766625452340.post-48508519122138181612014-08-04T13:16:00.004-07:002014-08-04T13:16:59.173-07:00Painting Gift for those who Give school supplies <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I just went back to school shopping at 5Below and got some great deals for the shipment going to the kids in Africa this weekend. For those of you who have asked me how you can help, stop by 5 Below and pick up a few back packs, pairs of shoes, white board markers or writing booklets. Feel free to drop them off anytime. I am usually home everyday painting or working on the computer. I will give each person who buys school supplies this limited edition print as a gift.<br />
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<a href="http://www.shop.paintingbrighterfutures.com/Babies-gicle-print-on-paper-PBF040-PP.htm" target="_blank">Babies, 8 x 10 limited edition print on archival paper</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.shop.paintingbrighterfutures.com/Babies-gicle-print-on-paper-PBF040-PP.htm" target="_blank"><img alt=" Babies, oil painting by Adrienne kralick" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZfisJJRpmOoGB4mwG4k8c8c1XvZu0KUuw6yILZPeFT9S1R9XC91jp-VL1L7JRkwJ_Uu3rt5XrnOZJc3gKgKx_RjijTmz9ctuqIyIDHC77wPm42uTLZMrxQnYSas-jM27U18-KWce-_GYE/s1600/pbf037copyright.jpg" height="320" width="252" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs2UYmRuvWNi-q3f22XojbvM39PW9r6dH33xKrACiGlzTuRcU1OysaXUm0DfP9Mw4PmAOoNv9stxiaMMUUpAK-Dq6SroM5ijWNap1cs-AFsZPZWYDoKakJIkSA0kERgMRpH97LFGjDbR9-/s1600/DSCN1639.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Backpacks for the children at Future Leaders in Ghana." border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs2UYmRuvWNi-q3f22XojbvM39PW9r6dH33xKrACiGlzTuRcU1OysaXUm0DfP9Mw4PmAOoNv9stxiaMMUUpAK-Dq6SroM5ijWNap1cs-AFsZPZWYDoKakJIkSA0kERgMRpH97LFGjDbR9-/s1600/DSCN1639.JPG" height="240" title="Backpacks for the children at Future Leaders in Ghana." width="320" /></a></div>
This is what I bought today at <a href="http://www.fivebelow.com/store-locator?locationSearchValue=22124&lat=38.8923513&lng=-77.32669909999998&results=true" target="_blank">5Below</a>. The quality is really amazing for $5. I also bought pencil sharpeners, writing booklets and white board markers.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzOreGDlRB8AVHnylZfA2VOMSvbw5R_fzn26XNngmWaV-JoyRFTfVmesyTIVqBvIHKiTPssdXLM1TQ4wggOodq8D4szqiBsGFlZocsQocC61Usc5QgDKF9Lxoq46pL2546AG_IRr0zyw-C/s1600/DSCN1640.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzOreGDlRB8AVHnylZfA2VOMSvbw5R_fzn26XNngmWaV-JoyRFTfVmesyTIVqBvIHKiTPssdXLM1TQ4wggOodq8D4szqiBsGFlZocsQocC61Usc5QgDKF9Lxoq46pL2546AG_IRr0zyw-C/s1600/DSCN1640.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: left;">Last year, I sent handwriting booklets and they were very helpful. Those have already been used up and they need more. I bought a bunch of these today at 5Below for just $2.50 each. I could use tons more.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLD4t3Af6tAgDxuLKtuC-b30GvX7z9SmKN28MYyEzyiWf2AurOxwTMc_0RtqmOinqBk17p1-UztjJJaXwTWFe-PuCWTZxdQY_kLUjtrfTzsOLMRWzRpw6rzPMZyxDd_76JDpMcwBupYYZP/s1600/IMG_1106.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLD4t3Af6tAgDxuLKtuC-b30GvX7z9SmKN28MYyEzyiWf2AurOxwTMc_0RtqmOinqBk17p1-UztjJJaXwTWFe-PuCWTZxdQY_kLUjtrfTzsOLMRWzRpw6rzPMZyxDd_76JDpMcwBupYYZP/s1600/IMG_1106.JPG" height="320" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: left;"> The first time I went to Ghana, the children stood in line, waiting to hand me their own tattered little packet of paper, so that I could give them "homework". I flipped through to find a page or part of a page free so that I could make dots in the shape of letters so that they could practice their letters. I couldn't believe it. They did not even have their own notebook or handwriting booklet.<br /></span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtT0fMEheM4UY-9HrZl7OhLi619VINkXy7aGU3je1BOkE1-BrH06l9GqbhSsZly_8T9L8PaSGk3-ZPGa1A5RwO-et1k1qTaLVbGt3pjTUF-OX12uTtNHANWBZ6q870vcNkd5j975wZruQw/s1600/DSCN1641.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtT0fMEheM4UY-9HrZl7OhLi619VINkXy7aGU3je1BOkE1-BrH06l9GqbhSsZly_8T9L8PaSGk3-ZPGa1A5RwO-et1k1qTaLVbGt3pjTUF-OX12uTtNHANWBZ6q870vcNkd5j975wZruQw/s1600/DSCN1641.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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These shoes were also $5. I bought these for my little friend Mary. I am hoping to get more for the other children.<br />
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The deadline to get this shipment off is this coming Saturday August 9th. Call me if you have anything to donate or need a pick up. Thank you!!! Adrienne 571-437-5060<br />
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Adrienne Wymanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04796095624979907031noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2206578766625452340.post-57629522386361265252014-08-01T14:31:00.003-07:002014-08-01T14:41:16.771-07:00Well Off Women of Africa<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Colorful oil painting for sale of African women in Accra, Ghana." border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW794Cwf-9lhlq948vWWT8bZS4WUDOGC0ZTNnkDEe_jCzVyR_cAZY_U6OUNc45HIlpnyWUT5gq9ydjLSc68PzeYPHZM8swl8VzkKr1qr7kzuaguSHJgwpwPMoq_FAa1a38xcxl0QS0uUqY/s1600/pbf029market+close+up+woman+in+yellow+tank+top.jpg" height="264" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title=""Well Off", original oil painting by Adrienne Kralick" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Original Oil Painting, "Well Off"<br />
<a href="http://www.shop.paintingbrighterfutures.com/Well-Off-original-oil-painting-on-canvas-PBF029-O.htm" target="_blank">To purchase this painting or print on my secure on line store.</a></td></tr>
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I was told by a friend in Africa, that some of the most financially "well off" families in Ghana are those supported by the women who own and operate the little stalls in the Medina market in Accra. "Well off" is a relative term, but in this case, it means that they are able to put food on the table, clothe their children and pay for them to go to school. It is my dream that all the world's children can be that "well off". That is why I am donating pr<span style="background-color: transparent;">oceeds from the sale of this painting, and the others on my </span> <a href="http://www.paintingbrighterfutures.com/" style="background-color: transparent;" target="_blank">site</a> and <a href="http://www.shop.paintingbrighterfutures.com/" target="_blank">store</a> <span style="background-color: transparent;">to the children's charity, Future Leaders Underprivileged Children's Center, which provides free education for the needy children living in one of the poorest slums near Accra.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaH_NJzJgDihjVSWIinbb33lc2ifXkCC_nliYDCvBu9yROuX0Q3LDiu4zrupqWWbXYkQGt6YZgCCnANSDkmcZzd5rcCoBUtaCtCWgxd59u0ai4XZsOi4rPpo0bXi-0bEQi7Fmq3JFUQkh9/s1600/DSCN0187.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="African oil painting displayed on the wall of Adrienne Kralick's dining room." border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaH_NJzJgDihjVSWIinbb33lc2ifXkCC_nliYDCvBu9yROuX0Q3LDiu4zrupqWWbXYkQGt6YZgCCnANSDkmcZzd5rcCoBUtaCtCWgxd59u0ai4XZsOi4rPpo0bXi-0bEQi7Fmq3JFUQkh9/s1600/DSCN0187.JPG" height="240" title="The painting named "Well Off' on display in Adrienne's home." width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmqCVhmoiPGprEX-yHBbMov7sAXUsOH4NMeODNtmrnRI3iXlWoGTy708wz3ntTUJLblgtWnR3U-tDSKfkto2Uj1W6-AdjGIdoOvOGWru5JMhLLmlPQPz6i5EO4UEizfZ4RDCybTmlT88M-/s1600/DSCN0186.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="African oil painting displayed on the wall of Adrienne Kralick's traditional home." border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmqCVhmoiPGprEX-yHBbMov7sAXUsOH4NMeODNtmrnRI3iXlWoGTy708wz3ntTUJLblgtWnR3U-tDSKfkto2Uj1W6-AdjGIdoOvOGWru5JMhLLmlPQPz6i5EO4UEizfZ4RDCybTmlT88M-/s1600/DSCN0186.JPG" height="240" title="Close up, Oil painting named "Well Off" on the wall of Adrienne's home. " width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent;">I have included these picture to show how the painting looks on the wall of my house. I was pleasantly surprised to see how great these vibrant colorful paintings complement my traditional colonial style home and European influenced home furnishings.</span></div>
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Adrienne Wymanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04796095624979907031noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2206578766625452340.post-12491928105825423892014-07-31T06:28:00.000-07:002014-07-31T06:28:31.690-07:00Teach them to Fish, or Sew! <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Good things are happening for the sewing center in Ghana. Billa Mahmud started this center after parents in the community saw how education was helping open doors for their children and asked him to teach them too. He came up with the bright idea of starting vocational centers where adults could learn a trade for free. All he asked is that they Pay it Forward, by teaching others in turn.</div>
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfDXp54Fw8G-4TQsRE_-sI1qeYfeM5D2n6YojDiL2iBRdfA77mzJzjWqQ_4mNm1Q9ocnWVeHLpwgiqlCZGCIu7HFwsolaIuOJ9zbKG8A-P76yUnb-vmgsnU_denUx5hF_b64-I5uhd5W1c/s1600/10583979_680221222032993_5065898380039679745_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Sewing center that is making a difference in the lives of needy woman and children." border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfDXp54Fw8G-4TQsRE_-sI1qeYfeM5D2n6YojDiL2iBRdfA77mzJzjWqQ_4mNm1Q9ocnWVeHLpwgiqlCZGCIu7HFwsolaIuOJ9zbKG8A-P76yUnb-vmgsnU_denUx5hF_b64-I5uhd5W1c/s1600/10583979_680221222032993_5065898380039679745_n.jpg" height="239" title="Women learn to sew for free at Future Leaders UCC in Ghana." width="320" /></a></div>
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This is the sewing center at Future Leaders UCC in front of the children's center. The women sit outside on wooden benches, in front of a shipping container they lock up at night. I was so surprised to see them using the old fashioned petal push black Singer sewing machine. I thought there had to be newer sewing machines that were just gathering dust in peoples closets back home in America. We have so much more than we need and they need so much. Let's share!</div>
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They make aprons and bags using colorful traditional African fabrics. The quality is amazing.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM3vocY3NUHsUWQh_AyCBXR6qKxNk4mvt601VgfWIyTA-30Z77hgvZhqHR2rz87duAmV0ww__pCrBhya1vFBugnWJCYXUr9dsj2cnStHoKv1TsX8UKeb4hee8tPZsBRXaZ90u9eLLrq2Y/s1600/me+painting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Teaching a workshop on the techniques and life of Monet while traveling from Paris to Normandy." border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM3vocY3NUHsUWQh_AyCBXR6qKxNk4mvt601VgfWIyTA-30Z77hgvZhqHR2rz87duAmV0ww__pCrBhya1vFBugnWJCYXUr9dsj2cnStHoKv1TsX8UKeb4hee8tPZsBRXaZ90u9eLLrq2Y/s1600/me+painting.JPG" height="240" title="Artist, Adrienne Kralick wearing an African apron as she teaches a workshop in Giverny France." width="320" /></a></div>
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I wear my African apron every day when I paint. I even brought it with me to France last year when I taught an Impressionism workshop. Here I am wearing wearing my African apron as I paint in Monet's garden in Giverny France.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia24f3CRIKQJ7fnDE7RVDStaw7bVZv-M6mTJfUNp_aV-_wea_tGnFRbIesnlsIzds8VoKS43qq4BxqcGCpDlpdQzHoFg8g1lYnVjzJSKhbPz-FGGR-N2h7jgLGlzcg0HRalvxWXxI7JuPN/s1600/DSCN1571.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Adrienne Kralick is collecting sewing machines to send to Ghana to help woman learn a trade." border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia24f3CRIKQJ7fnDE7RVDStaw7bVZv-M6mTJfUNp_aV-_wea_tGnFRbIesnlsIzds8VoKS43qq4BxqcGCpDlpdQzHoFg8g1lYnVjzJSKhbPz-FGGR-N2h7jgLGlzcg0HRalvxWXxI7JuPN/s1600/DSCN1571.JPG" height="240" title="Ann Marquis hands Ken Kralick a sewing machine donation that will help a woman in Africa support her family." width="320" /></a></div>
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I gave a talk at the <a href="http://www.valeschoolhouse.org/content.asp?contentid=34">Vale Club</a>, a local women's club near my home in Oakton, and mentioned that I was looking for sewing machines to send in my next shipment to Africa. Well, the generous women there helped me collect 6 sewing machines. Ann Marquis has been a real angel. She bought several machines at The Closet in Herndon, Virginia where she volunteers weekly. She has a huge and altruistic heart. </div>
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjThl0j30nHGq31qg9jxtopSl3Tlj7T4DP4D-mTE7wzDuRvf9jHpci3YEOpsoWybkgekO1Ok_3wqtLOkIjHJjM0kqE1GRnDecp1vsplTFBbS33Ra74fPPcds2_KDQSjMDVggf2UVaWHbtGY/s1600/IMG_20140719_170027_139.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="This apron was made at a center is empowering women and girls by teaching them the skill of sewing. " border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjThl0j30nHGq31qg9jxtopSl3Tlj7T4DP4D-mTE7wzDuRvf9jHpci3YEOpsoWybkgekO1Ok_3wqtLOkIjHJjM0kqE1GRnDecp1vsplTFBbS33Ra74fPPcds2_KDQSjMDVggf2UVaWHbtGY/s1600/IMG_20140719_170027_139.jpg" height="320" title="Anne Marquis wears an apron made by hand in Ghana." width="180" /></a></div>
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So, I gave her a beautiful African created by the women at the sewing center to remind her that each machine she bought is creating a job for a woman and helping a family. (That is my sweet little dog, Leonardo DaPuppy)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH4rRjnm62wnC17YRVKysYl4pPfKs2PgM7C_eB4QFknLfs634cIB_Isf-fF5LmqF4_M-OkCIsVgVQ1nn2-Sg2ULgws_rk6jnkDgQhmJxmgnKIUqdT6Aidx-ydhtPbbMflDg5GAW9kV_Yc9/s1600/DSCN1631.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH4rRjnm62wnC17YRVKysYl4pPfKs2PgM7C_eB4QFknLfs634cIB_Isf-fF5LmqF4_M-OkCIsVgVQ1nn2-Sg2ULgws_rk6jnkDgQhmJxmgnKIUqdT6Aidx-ydhtPbbMflDg5GAW9kV_Yc9/s1600/DSCN1631.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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My good friend from college, Rhonda Amosoro brought over 2 machines plus donated money to pay to ship them. I paid between $15 and $25 a box to put them on the shipping container last year. I have not asked for monetary donations because I never feel comfortable doing that. (But, I would be happy to accept any if so inclined.: )<br />
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Nothing is as easy as it seems. We realized that the machines would not work in Ghana without a power converter. So, I mentioned that on Facebook. Social media worked! <a href="http://barnako.typepad.com/jewelworx/">Donna Barnako</a>, a jewler and fiber artist I used to represent when I had my gallery, offered to send me a check to pay for the converters from her vacation in Maine. People can be so generous! I told her that I wanted to put her picture on my blog but she told me just to post some pictures the kids.<br />
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So here is Donna's picture and pictures of cute kids.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinSY7_qydWvhLUVh1NcYWcEboMDx_cQ2gIptmubBr0fr96v2XJWzVJp0kNyIcyAx_bRIQm65O5ETgt62gk_HTc-v7hh8lDvgfL6kmIf0fOKzVCyPvhSUrVmzqM2Ew5iDraLHA8326YY76W/s1600/A-Donna+Barnako-2+col.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinSY7_qydWvhLUVh1NcYWcEboMDx_cQ2gIptmubBr0fr96v2XJWzVJp0kNyIcyAx_bRIQm65O5ETgt62gk_HTc-v7hh8lDvgfL6kmIf0fOKzVCyPvhSUrVmzqM2Ew5iDraLHA8326YY76W/s1600/A-Donna+Barnako-2+col.jpeg" height="150" width="200" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOmkjNwv7nD8mlsI5PQLR1F8pvqeAtSAeyU20-d3gFSmxkTtmZLtliwTm5EEFmyIP8GuCCpdL_teHgif4432y8S73ERwPSY3d_7Js1wLfU7lJW1gygHJr2yihhNqIJt_OPLqshjWrxV__Q/s1600/IMG_1156.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOmkjNwv7nD8mlsI5PQLR1F8pvqeAtSAeyU20-d3gFSmxkTtmZLtliwTm5EEFmyIP8GuCCpdL_teHgif4432y8S73ERwPSY3d_7Js1wLfU7lJW1gygHJr2yihhNqIJt_OPLqshjWrxV__Q/s1600/IMG_1156.jpg" height="244" width="320" /></a></div>
So, here here are some cute kids. I took this photo of some little ones playing in the dirt of the vocational center while their mothers worked.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPcNPcyo3ZPgPZEvyfx-ji57cSpmSTOcL4HzJdPUckrocfLQwwN2FkecPVJJft3f0Xs-lQiUDJ6oGi1N0Vdk_qoQCBkqYAwVeirdU4XGaDCOAIrHnn2cTdOiFJVsQjDlrMVF5u_p3RX1-k/s1600/406434_404657842922667_1968187090_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPcNPcyo3ZPgPZEvyfx-ji57cSpmSTOcL4HzJdPUckrocfLQwwN2FkecPVJJft3f0Xs-lQiUDJ6oGi1N0Vdk_qoQCBkqYAwVeirdU4XGaDCOAIrHnn2cTdOiFJVsQjDlrMVF5u_p3RX1-k/s1600/406434_404657842922667_1968187090_n.jpg" height="400" title="Cute kid at Future Leaders children's charity in Ghana." width="300" /></a></div>
I saw this picture of Micheal on the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/FutureLeadersUCC">Future Leaders Facebook page</a> and they don't get any cuter than this.<br />
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This is a beautiful web that is growing. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/akuainspirations">Akua Inspirations</a> is a business that was started by a young woman in Canada who volunteered at Future Leaders last summer. I ordered the aprons from her. I hope to buy a whole pile of aprons and bags next time I go to Ghana.<br />
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Adrienne Wymanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04796095624979907031noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2206578766625452340.post-47784570572909611332014-07-26T10:14:00.000-07:002014-07-26T10:14:49.234-07:00My husband and son contribute their computer skills to help the cause<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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My husband and son are spending Saturday morning repairing old computers and printers to send to the little computer lab at Future Leaders in Ghana and to the local public school in Teshie. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwI3Z0toZdqD1wUEppo2AEAhbmb6QFpud5XQP94-KVKC_103RNsLcwEZsW0cIvLkmgK5A7G6-AiKwOK1yfV0Y2_6zhejdFq9oBpVMqPL0hINog489G6TaL9KojI79nQ0WgQYoi7oAkmpkd/s1600/Ken+and+Stevo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Father and son help needy children in Africa by repairing old computers. " border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwI3Z0toZdqD1wUEppo2AEAhbmb6QFpud5XQP94-KVKC_103RNsLcwEZsW0cIvLkmgK5A7G6-AiKwOK1yfV0Y2_6zhejdFq9oBpVMqPL0hINog489G6TaL9KojI79nQ0WgQYoi7oAkmpkd/s1600/Ken+and+Stevo.jpg" height="320" title="Virginina tech student Stephen Kralick, and IBM's Kenneth Kralick repairs computers to send to underserved school in Ghana, Africa" width="320" /></a></div>
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Stephen Kralick is a rising sophomore at Virginia Tech studying computer engineering and my husband is an Informational Technology executive at IBM so this is perfect way for them to help the children in Africa with their education.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQX42eQeKZ5Scor2HN5zK0AvkA9dj5arlZtDqffVmBfvLa1m_iNJ2aYfdr5V-PEonlXXp3wiunJ-dAERNhoruCGWj_2DW4K_ta5xhCbOC_R_kOJYAY87og2tjict84KwIJlBt6-qlO9uOQ/s1600/DSCN1634.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Virginis Tech sophomore is helping his mother help a charity in Ghana Africa my repairing and recycling computers." border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQX42eQeKZ5Scor2HN5zK0AvkA9dj5arlZtDqffVmBfvLa1m_iNJ2aYfdr5V-PEonlXXp3wiunJ-dAERNhoruCGWj_2DW4K_ta5xhCbOC_R_kOJYAY87og2tjict84KwIJlBt6-qlO9uOQ/s1600/DSCN1634.JPG" height="240" title="Stephen Kralick repairs computers going to Africa under a painting by his mother Adrienne Kralick ." width="320" /></a></div>
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Technology and Art together - My son is sitting under one of my African oil paintings while trying to take the working pieces from two different broken hard drives and make them work together.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEbD2ywHcS0_8ulOF4xxadb2GgcTzIR2xsLoaN8TdRwF62uq4Jkmh_17Vbza_D1xUwPxeXFvAwgnSF4Q1tY1V4bpHuqjabKsOxmaA2BCbGlEqusJH9h-eNaE_fvenyscychQ3IDQVs2MtJ/s1600/DSCN1636.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="These computers are being recycled by the Kralick family and are going to school that provide free education to needy children in Ghana, West Africa." border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEbD2ywHcS0_8ulOF4xxadb2GgcTzIR2xsLoaN8TdRwF62uq4Jkmh_17Vbza_D1xUwPxeXFvAwgnSF4Q1tY1V4bpHuqjabKsOxmaA2BCbGlEqusJH9h-eNaE_fvenyscychQ3IDQVs2MtJ/s1600/DSCN1636.JPG" height="240" title="Kralick kitchen full of computer donations going to help educate poor children in Ghana." width="320" /></a></div>
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My kitchen is full of computers and printers but recycling these by sending them on to the schools in Ghana that don't have any computers at all is a win win. They are not doing any good sitting in my basement.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZOiDt3P3KubiaLg5BgA6o2tTWaanpHqjQHnUHVHFI_7cITKsQT1yO1aKKZQfiB2ve-rJc_9h4KHiWmyb6tKMTF9W4IIMKBey1BK16OyVp36r6JmzhOycKFtiBxPU7MrcQYWsTau42lzZR/s1600/1972352_627141567340959_993682833_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Future Leaders in Ghana helps needy children get an education for free. " border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZOiDt3P3KubiaLg5BgA6o2tTWaanpHqjQHnUHVHFI_7cITKsQT1yO1aKKZQfiB2ve-rJc_9h4KHiWmyb6tKMTF9W4IIMKBey1BK16OyVp36r6JmzhOycKFtiBxPU7MrcQYWsTau42lzZR/s1600/1972352_627141567340959_993682833_n.jpg" height="240" title="Adrienne Kralick is collecting computers for this lab helping needy children in Ghana." width="320" /></a></div>
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Here is a picture of the little computer lab at Future Leaders UCC in Teshie where many of the new technology will go. I am keeping my fingers crossed that I will be able to travel to Africa and help set up the new ones.<br />
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Adrienne Wymanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04796095624979907031noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2206578766625452340.post-73871195038631088732014-07-23T09:30:00.000-07:002014-07-24T09:00:08.984-07:00A new school for the needy children is a dream come true<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
There is so many exciting things going on right now in my project, Painting Brighter Futures for the kids at Future Leaders Underprivileged Children's Center in Ghana.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsZR7mDdktkzKDY914QDil6M415dg-Ck8DY9flOKcXuG3ChQIB1LGXD7Mz_Mb4sogUS7amvdDSoFFmgpRskXQOSjuQSKwn7VEz_24yMLDIDpEQdJpHAkvgfLOQ7C1H75wuFHxi281b8eWw/s1600/10360546_663424223712693_1709971240234585847_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsZR7mDdktkzKDY914QDil6M415dg-Ck8DY9flOKcXuG3ChQIB1LGXD7Mz_Mb4sogUS7amvdDSoFFmgpRskXQOSjuQSKwn7VEz_24yMLDIDpEQdJpHAkvgfLOQ7C1H75wuFHxi281b8eWw/s1600/10360546_663424223712693_1709971240234585847_n.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
This is a picture of the children on the land that will one day be a school for them. A place where all the local kids who can't afford the minimal fees needed to attend the public school, can come and learn for FREE. Billa's Maumud's dream is coming true. His dream of a school where all children can learn no matter how poor. He has met with the village elders, negotiated a deal and received the money needed for his down payment. The kids were so excited to take rides in trotroes(little African mini buses) to stand on the land and sing songs and dance.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTH8tngWycXqEDN3UsZPN5r0cyrVfKrNVTnHBqObp2CeTmj2q9Cj1ZrM2Z-yoU3oQnvSt1w9czUMT0GFdsLSKkRicn5BQTy1K-y4sIIZVbC8Q4NRDx9cahDm75GN8CZJ8QgcxBwD3Efopj/s1600/nursery.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTH8tngWycXqEDN3UsZPN5r0cyrVfKrNVTnHBqObp2CeTmj2q9Cj1ZrM2Z-yoU3oQnvSt1w9czUMT0GFdsLSKkRicn5BQTy1K-y4sIIZVbC8Q4NRDx9cahDm75GN8CZJ8QgcxBwD3Efopj/s1600/nursery.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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For perspective, right now these little structures on a rented property serve as classrooms for 150 children. There are 130 kids on the waiting list. These are children who cannot afford to go to public school and would not a chance at an education if it were not for Billa Mahmud and his Future Leaders Children's Center. With the new land, the money being spent on rent can now go to educate more children. </div>
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Billa has come a long way since he starting to teach 5 street kids under this mango tree. He is a real example of how one person, with a dream can make a big difference.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgHDDECJ2wC96EwZ3t4h-2DbLGqGyN3_Jxn8N8WJdwJ3RZwCUX2RtOAjHRbCIW8JfHnpbv59e2-8nUajHsJPbxytxesvZJVolRzTwgA-bPCbYhyYxL01-G1DVhGP_y1OBPPPpZpbnYjjr6/s1600/10363885_652073728181076_3156574078172423685_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgHDDECJ2wC96EwZ3t4h-2DbLGqGyN3_Jxn8N8WJdwJ3RZwCUX2RtOAjHRbCIW8JfHnpbv59e2-8nUajHsJPbxytxesvZJVolRzTwgA-bPCbYhyYxL01-G1DVhGP_y1OBPPPpZpbnYjjr6/s1600/10363885_652073728181076_3156574078172423685_n.jpg" height="320" width="238" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfGVtVZUpSwt-yTyf1rShl0Hn535skAtmzvHGt4BCHMOZgULyf9syHoP8lD-K8NNSRDZII0N7ugaJS8XCsLctDhAvX832AHq-Pdt0iuXQHqvE7qAKGxFYcEkBd7DUGKB6X3iAvL21CDHRh/s1600/10367582_652077338180715_4486449553271856555_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfGVtVZUpSwt-yTyf1rShl0Hn535skAtmzvHGt4BCHMOZgULyf9syHoP8lD-K8NNSRDZII0N7ugaJS8XCsLctDhAvX832AHq-Pdt0iuXQHqvE7qAKGxFYcEkBd7DUGKB6X3iAvL21CDHRh/s1600/10367582_652077338180715_4486449553271856555_n.jpg" height="320" width="234" /></a></div>
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Here are some pictures of the kids with new clothes send from the UK. I can't wait to see pictures of their smiling faces when the donations I am sending in August get there.<br />
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I am shipping these boxes in August. They have quickly taken over my garage.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX7CJhwUQU2tloasJ9YlvTLuNY3GYvpcCfqVwyGGOeJom1p0Hlby_ONTVJqrA97lavCB8Xpr9EkB6lwzOwbLUTRXsSmYCMpGRUiibBji-VdC_nGZcelUBVnqD3B4VQLsM28G7T3CgWHyM2/s1600/get-attachment.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX7CJhwUQU2tloasJ9YlvTLuNY3GYvpcCfqVwyGGOeJom1p0Hlby_ONTVJqrA97lavCB8Xpr9EkB6lwzOwbLUTRXsSmYCMpGRUiibBji-VdC_nGZcelUBVnqD3B4VQLsM28G7T3CgWHyM2/s1600/get-attachment.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
I have a minion of angels now out there collecting donations for the kids. In this picture retired school teacher Marge Buzzelli drops off school supplies,<br />
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More later, my friend Rhonda Amoroso is just pulling up with donations of clothes and another sewing machine. We now have 6 machines going to the sewing center where parents are learning a vocation for free.</div>
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Adrienne Wymanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04796095624979907031noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2206578766625452340.post-50280882867174201752014-07-22T10:32:00.001-07:002014-07-24T09:00:45.158-07:00Girls feel powerful when they go to school<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://www.shop.paintingbrighterfutures.com/Girl-Power-original-oil-painitng-PBF041-O.htm"><img alt=" To purchase this painting" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7-QbCVYVJeU7HfD4cXBnrnuZL6KOQxVBXcajp9wSPazGk_Cg4R9xo2IGPnyEYJ209_yLkpAP3HouNjY_VU5g2LUxnk0Q3C05GVHLdULvIku_ge-3INhm6yvOrdLZe1a-jjvmMV4v_7G1T/s1600/pbf042+(framed)_edited-1.jpg" height="320" width="250" /></a></div>
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I have just added this painting to the site. I call it "Girl Power". It is so much more than a colorful scene of a little girl walking down a dirt road. She is charged up, empowered, she just got off the bus from school! I know, because I was on the <a href="http://adrienneartist.blogspot.com/2013_05_01_archive.html">bus </a>with her that day. Going to school is a big deal where she lives in one of those little shacks in the distance. I love the confidence in her walk.<br />
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She is one of the fortunate kids who is going to Future Leaders Underprivileged Children's Center, near Accra, Ghana in West Africa where children from needy families can learn for free.<br />
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This 8 x 10 original oil painting is available for $350. Limited edition prints are $95. If you purchase this painting or any painting on my site you will be helping to build a school for this little girl and others like her. Proceeds from each sale are donated to Future Leaders UCC.<br />
www.shop.paintingbrighterfutures.com<br />
www.paintingbrighterfutures.com</div>
Adrienne Wymanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04796095624979907031noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2206578766625452340.post-70911770087431259902014-07-18T08:14:00.002-07:002014-07-18T08:14:19.471-07:00Recycle you old computer to help children in need<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I just heard from Billa in Ghana that the local public school near his underprivileged children's center does not even have a computer. We would like to find computers to give them too. The tiny computer lab we started last year, in an old shipping container, is not only helping the children learn but has been an asset to the community. I know so many people upgrade computers every couple of years and the old ones are just taking up space on a shelf somewhere. Please consider donating your old lab top or small desk top to help these needy children learn. </div>
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Send me an email if you have one to give. AdrienneArtist@gmail.com</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuLWX9clPxCAE4LKzopBI3c8JzbVgwTihFMyqlf3oc1kh6Hi35qe-twmje4-_MZH7oMHnv5yF52LP2b4TjxMf1Ueg0OMVgM1h00EkRGCjHauerfjSjwjwrVBgHwNri35xAQBQzRwS-Mj4k/s1600/943238_561555720554464_1164317084_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuLWX9clPxCAE4LKzopBI3c8JzbVgwTihFMyqlf3oc1kh6Hi35qe-twmje4-_MZH7oMHnv5yF52LP2b4TjxMf1Ueg0OMVgM1h00EkRGCjHauerfjSjwjwrVBgHwNri35xAQBQzRwS-Mj4k/s1600/943238_561555720554464_1164317084_n.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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This is the computer lab when it started in May of 2013.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRSCK-uQIPBfyL1ySn0EGjuO39BYId-PMyYpTIAtZ9QK7iL-KLbAmrI0jtBdyO4vI5ZBRkXgHd-aDGISSxsAfNNBw95h9yFWG_tui4t2smmL8Ydom0zXivzBnCs3qKQ37gL1c7IQfHguXd/s1600/10462651_667023253352790_2195905908695274160_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRSCK-uQIPBfyL1ySn0EGjuO39BYId-PMyYpTIAtZ9QK7iL-KLbAmrI0jtBdyO4vI5ZBRkXgHd-aDGISSxsAfNNBw95h9yFWG_tui4t2smmL8Ydom0zXivzBnCs3qKQ37gL1c7IQfHguXd/s1600/10462651_667023253352790_2195905908695274160_n.jpg" height="238" width="320" /></a></div>
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The computer lab today is still humble but now has chairs and more computers. I get such a kick out of seeing my donations in use.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR-wbBk-ptlKZ3nCEaffCLVntMOpTObEOSBiuSN9eaPv_7bA3PkJ8ImS1fDAKBG0ULyQ0yRxrj2bDBOCtzs1QBNk0GUAKEvTH8FPaWTcnytgH0wi9lKXFeg0eBc1t0RBQ5cogB3wP1Boj7/s1600/pics+off+camera+summer+2014+167.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR-wbBk-ptlKZ3nCEaffCLVntMOpTObEOSBiuSN9eaPv_7bA3PkJ8ImS1fDAKBG0ULyQ0yRxrj2bDBOCtzs1QBNk0GUAKEvTH8FPaWTcnytgH0wi9lKXFeg0eBc1t0RBQ5cogB3wP1Boj7/s1600/pics+off+camera+summer+2014+167.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
I have been boxing up donations in my garage for the shipment that will leave in August. There is still time to contribute. I always post pictures of the donations once they reach their new home.</div>
Adrienne Wymanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04796095624979907031noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2206578766625452340.post-81443937965588876552014-07-08T09:49:00.001-07:002014-07-08T09:51:00.310-07:00Shipping to Ghana in August<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Word has spread and I now have a minion of angels out collecting donations for the needy families in Ghana. Someone stops by at least once a day to drop something off and I love the company of like minded people. We all hate to see the excesses here in America go to waste when there are people who really need them. </div>
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What started out as just a pile has now filled my garage. Good thing it is summer and the cars can go outside.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX7CJhwUQU2tloasJ9YlvTLuNY3GYvpcCfqVwyGGOeJom1p0Hlby_ONTVJqrA97lavCB8Xpr9EkB6lwzOwbLUTRXsSmYCMpGRUiibBji-VdC_nGZcelUBVnqD3B4VQLsM28G7T3CgWHyM2/s1600/get-attachment.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX7CJhwUQU2tloasJ9YlvTLuNY3GYvpcCfqVwyGGOeJom1p0Hlby_ONTVJqrA97lavCB8Xpr9EkB6lwzOwbLUTRXsSmYCMpGRUiibBji-VdC_nGZcelUBVnqD3B4VQLsM28G7T3CgWHyM2/s1600/get-attachment.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
Marge Buzzelli, is a former school teacher and has been going to various schools like Wolf Trap Elementary and Oak Hill Elementary to collect material from the teachers as they clean out their classrooms for the summer.<br />
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Anne Marquis works at The Closet, a resale shop in Herndon, VA and has been buying books and sewing machines for Future Leaders. Yup, she has been shopping her store, plus garage sales and church flea markets. One Saturday, my son ran into her at a garage sale when they were both reaching for the same books. When she mentioned she was shopping for kids in Ghana. He said, "Oh those are for my mom", and they became shopping buddies and were able to carry more books together. Here is Anne dropping off a sewing machine with my husband Ken.<br />
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I discovered a great way to get clothes for the kids. The school lost and founds! Here is a picture of the big bag of sweatshirts I am washing to get them nice and clean for the kids. </div>
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There is so much more to say, but so little time. There is big news about the land for the school and so much to do to get ready for the next shipment. I will try to blog more on a regular basis now that so much is going on.<br />
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Oh and Today I am selling this print to help raise funds to ship the donations. To learn more go to <a href="http://www.shop.paintingbrighterfutures.com/Babies-Playing-gicle-print-on-paper-PBF040-PP.htm">my store</a></h4>
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Adrienne Wymanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04796095624979907031noreply@blogger.com0