World AIDS Day 2006 in Kenya (Peace Tiles, St. Rita's, World AIDS Marathon)/Still Time to Buy Cards for a Great Cause!

[Guest guest]

Dear Friends, Hello and here is an inspiring sampling of some Kenyan-related activities for WAD 2006 (all members of the arts coalition, ActALIVE, at www.actalive.org)! There are activities in Nakuru, Kisumu, and beyond. And speaking of Kisumu, the World AIDS Marathon was run there today. Hope all went well, and that fleet were flying for a cause in which we can never be defeated!

I wanted to make a special plug for the cards which can be ordered to help defray costs and add to the donations given to local nonprofits from Marathon proceeds. Only $11 a box!! They are beautiful, and a gift which keeps on giving. http://worldaidsmarathon.com/card.html Some of the activities in Kenya are linked to the Peace Tiles Project (www.peacetiles.net), which was so successful last year in locations throughout the country. I would like to make special note, with deep sadness, of the passing of Father Angelo D'Agostino of the Nyumbani Home and Village in Nairobi, Kenya (http://www.nyumbani.org ). Fr. D'Ag was a tireless advocate for children and for creative approaches to HIV/AIDS prevention and education, as well as a treatment activist, a visionary who developed an eco-village where youth and elders (the remaining generations) live together and support one another, and an all-around immensely inspiring and caring person. He was an enthusiastic supporter of the Peace Tiles project, and the youth of Nyumbani made many touching and powerful tiles. He will be sorely missed among us, but his legacy will be ever-alive and well, and making mural magic! For Nyumbani tiles and others from Kenya, see http://www.telecommunity.us/peacetiles/taxonomy_menu/5/49. With greatest artistic affections always, Janet

1) REPACTED (youth theater troupe, Nakuru):

This year's WAD is breaking away from tradition. REPACTED Kenya is taking the message to a rural area where cultural traditions still make it hard for people to talk openly about HIV/AIDS. On 1st December, the team is going to Kericho district in Enamoi constituency where most runners from Kenya come from, but still among this Kalenjin community a lot of stigma is experienced. The town of Nakuru, on the 25th November, will be graced by a beauty pageant of people living with HIV/AIDS, which will try to reduce stigma within the town. Here is more of a write-up:

Beauty Pageant and Peace Tiles Project:

Among several activities lined up, the first activity will be a beauty pageant that has been scheduled to take place on November 25th 2006. The activity is expected to involve young women and youths who are HIV positive; they will be expected to interact freely with the rest of participants. The activity, unlike other beauty pageants, will not be interested in the most beautiful or well dressed, but is geared towards the discouragement of stigma and discrimination.

During the activity women will be empowered on their rights and issues of Gender Based Violence. Issues of HIV/AIDS will be discussed, with a sole aim of encouraging Positive Prevention among those that are infected and affected. The activity is expected to attract a total of 40 participants. 30 females and 10 males, with an estimated audience of 500 young women and youths. In order to enable the success of the activity young people living with the virus are involved in all areas of the activity implementation.

During this activity, local artists will perform and showcase their talents. It’s expected that a small fee of 50 shillings will be charged as entrance fee and the proceedings will be channeled towards a charitable course which will be a children's home and or a support group working with young people. Peace Tiles is a new project that we embarked on last year; the tiles made from this have been shown around the world in murals, and were also part of an exhibition for during the World AIDS conference in Toronto this past August. This year we will use the female participants to make Peace Tiles that we hope will be showcased around the country again, and to global audiences, through the Peace Tiles network that already exists, and the ActALIVE coalition and eforum for artists in the fight against HIV/AIDS and other social ills.

2) Ron Odhiambo/Sant Egidio (Nakuru and Nairobi):I have done a total of 32 shows on the Peace Tiles, with 25 in Kenya, 4 in Uganda, and 3 in Tanzania (to some rural centres). A total of 3467 tiles have been made in the process by youths, and even parents and teachers. I have been invited to Uganda again for a youth conference, to perform the Peace Tiles play I created in 2005, for WAD 2006.

3) St. Rita's (Kisumu):

My name is Bernadette Otieno, Coordinator of St. Rita's, a community-based orphan care program in Kisumu. I wish to share with you activities for WAD in Kisumu.

Our activities for the WAD are as listed1. 26th Nov: Faith based organisations coordinating the day2. 27th Nov: Hospital visit with specific reference to the children's ward3. 28th Nov: Day coordinated by youth on issues affecting them, and VCT activities4. 29th Nov: Day for all service providers5. 30th Nov: Children's day

This is where I get directly involved and will spell out what will take place on the day.

-There will be 2 processions, one from Dunga and Kondele-On Arrival at Kenyatta Sports Ground, there are opening remarks-Focus group discussions by the children on keeping the promise-Group presentation/petition by the children-On the Children's Day there will be a full medical camp for the children by medical doctors from CDC Kisumu,Tuungane Kisumu, Faces Kisumu.

On 1st Dec, World AIDS Day, events will be held at Kenyatta Sports Ground, currently organised by over 40 civil societies operating in Kisumu.

4) World AIDS Marathon (Kisumu):

M. Brodsky Foundation 1247 Mara Court Atlantic Beach, NY 11509Contact: R. Brodsky Phone: (516)770-7724 E-mail: richardbpc@... The 2006 World AIDS Marathon returns to Kenya An $11 investment with the potential of feeding hundreds of orphans at a dinner / concert the night before the World AIDS Marathon. A donation of exactly $11 will entitle you to receive a box of greeting cards, http://worldaidsmarathon.com/card.html. Each card you send has the potential of reaching out to other caring people like yourself so they may order a box of cards. The reality is you will be sending out at least 10 notes cards per year, so why not purchase cards where the net proceeds go to charity. The 2006 World AIDS Marathon will be held in Kisumu, Kenya, on December 1st, 2006. The marathon will be sponsored by the M. Brodsky Foundation and Kisumu AIDS Marathon Organization. Updates about the marathon and half-marathon, pre-race dinner for 500 orphans and 500 runners, post-race festivities and other activities will be posted shortly.

There will be free HIV-testing and counseling along the marathon and half-marathon routes. There will be small cash awards for the fastest runners and they are posted on the registration page, The race is foremost about the foundation’s mission: raising money for orphans so they can live in homes where they are loved and nurtured, helping families and individuals whose lives have been affected by AIDS or brain cancer, raising awareness that all people, especially expectant mothers must be tested for HIV so the expectant mother can take medicine that will substantially increase the likelihood that the new born child will be HIV-negative, and researching for cures or vaccines for both dreaded diseases. The net proceeds from the marathon will be going to AIDS and cancer charities as per the web link, http://www.richardmbrodsky.org/support.html. Why I started the M. Brodsky Foundation? I'm HIV-positive and I have brain cancer and I'm currently running a marathon a month (missed a few, broken collarbone, 12 stitches near eye) to raise awareness that 8,500 people do not have to die from AIDS every day. It's all about having access to AIDS medicine and leading an upbeat, healthy lifestyle. I'm blessed to have been born in a non-resource poor country where we take it for granted that doctors and medicine can prolong our lives.

But ask yourself the question: How would you fare living in resource-poor sub-Saharan Africa where you had no access to doctors, medicine, clean drinking water, and an adequate food supply? Hug your child good night, read them a bedtime story, and realize how lucky you are that your child is not one of the 14,000,000 orphans living in sub-Saharan Africa who has lost one or both parents to AIDS.

5) Stubington (Canada, for a project in Kenya):

For World AIDS Day, my Balkan Choir and an instrumental duo are giving a concert that is a fundraiser and awareness event for the Akonjo project in Kenya (this project is providing sanitary products to young women, so that they can continue being in school after the onset of menstruation, and is being organized by another ActALIVE member, Jimmy Ouma, of Artscool and MAAA Kenya).

[Guest guest]

Dear Friends, Hello and here is an inspiring sampling of some Kenyan-related activities for WAD 2006 (all members of the arts coalition, ActALIVE, at www.actalive.org)! There are activities in Nakuru, Kisumu, and beyond. And speaking of Kisumu, the World AIDS Marathon was run there today. Hope all went well, and that fleet were flying for a cause in which we can never be defeated!

I wanted to make a special plug for the cards which can be ordered to help defray costs and add to the donations given to local nonprofits from Marathon proceeds. Only $11 a box!! They are beautiful, and a gift which keeps on giving. http://worldaidsmarathon.com/card.html Some of the activities in Kenya are linked to the Peace Tiles Project (www.peacetiles.net), which was so successful last year in locations throughout the country. I would like to make special note, with deep sadness, of the passing of Father Angelo D'Agostino of the Nyumbani Home and Village in Nairobi, Kenya (http://www.nyumbani.org ). Fr. D'Ag was a tireless advocate for children and for creative approaches to HIV/AIDS prevention and education, as well as a treatment activist, a visionary who developed an eco-village where youth and elders (the remaining generations) live together and support one another, and an all-around immensely inspiring and caring person. He was an enthusiastic supporter of the Peace Tiles project, and the youth of Nyumbani made many touching and powerful tiles. He will be sorely missed among us, but his legacy will be ever-alive and well, and making mural magic! For Nyumbani tiles and others from Kenya, see http://www.telecommunity.us/peacetiles/taxonomy_menu/5/49. With greatest artistic affections always, Janet

1) REPACTED (youth theater troupe, Nakuru):

This year's WAD is breaking away from tradition. REPACTED Kenya is taking the message to a rural area where cultural traditions still make it hard for people to talk openly about HIV/AIDS. On 1st December, the team is going to Kericho district in Enamoi constituency where most runners from Kenya come from, but still among this Kalenjin community a lot of stigma is experienced. The town of Nakuru, on the 25th November, will be graced by a beauty pageant of people living with HIV/AIDS, which will try to reduce stigma within the town. Here is more of a write-up:

Beauty Pageant and Peace Tiles Project:

Among several activities lined up, the first activity will be a beauty pageant that has been scheduled to take place on November 25th 2006. The activity is expected to involve young women and youths who are HIV positive; they will be expected to interact freely with the rest of participants. The activity, unlike other beauty pageants, will not be interested in the most beautiful or well dressed, but is geared towards the discouragement of stigma and discrimination.

During the activity women will be empowered on their rights and issues of Gender Based Violence. Issues of HIV/AIDS will be discussed, with a sole aim of encouraging Positive Prevention among those that are infected and affected. The activity is expected to attract a total of 40 participants. 30 females and 10 males, with an estimated audience of 500 young women and youths. In order to enable the success of the activity young people living with the virus are involved in all areas of the activity implementation.

During this activity, local artists will perform and showcase their talents. It’s expected that a small fee of 50 shillings will be charged as entrance fee and the proceedings will be channeled towards a charitable course which will be a children's home and or a support group working with young people. Peace Tiles is a new project that we embarked on last year; the tiles made from this have been shown around the world in murals, and were also part of an exhibition for during the World AIDS conference in Toronto this past August. This year we will use the female participants to make Peace Tiles that we hope will be showcased around the country again, and to global audiences, through the Peace Tiles network that already exists, and the ActALIVE coalition and eforum for artists in the fight against HIV/AIDS and other social ills.

2) Ron Odhiambo/Sant Egidio (Nakuru and Nairobi):I have done a total of 32 shows on the Peace Tiles, with 25 in Kenya, 4 in Uganda, and 3 in Tanzania (to some rural centres). A total of 3467 tiles have been made in the process by youths, and even parents and teachers. I have been invited to Uganda again for a youth conference, to perform the Peace Tiles play I created in 2005, for WAD 2006.

3) St. Rita's (Kisumu):

My name is Bernadette Otieno, Coordinator of St. Rita's, a community-based orphan care program in Kisumu. I wish to share with you activities for WAD in Kisumu.

Our activities for the WAD are as listed1. 26th Nov: Faith based organisations coordinating the day2. 27th Nov: Hospital visit with specific reference to the children's ward3. 28th Nov: Day coordinated by youth on issues affecting them, and VCT activities4. 29th Nov: Day for all service providers5. 30th Nov: Children's day

This is where I get directly involved and will spell out what will take place on the day.

-There will be 2 processions, one from Dunga and Kondele-On Arrival at Kenyatta Sports Ground, there are opening remarks-Focus group discussions by the children on keeping the promise-Group presentation/petition by the children-On the Children's Day there will be a full medical camp for the children by medical doctors from CDC Kisumu,Tuungane Kisumu, Faces Kisumu.

On 1st Dec, World AIDS Day, events will be held at Kenyatta Sports Ground, currently organised by over 40 civil societies operating in Kisumu.

4) World AIDS Marathon (Kisumu):

M. Brodsky Foundation 1247 Mara Court Atlantic Beach, NY 11509Contact: R. Brodsky Phone: (516)770-7724 E-mail: richardbpc@... The 2006 World AIDS Marathon returns to Kenya An $11 investment with the potential of feeding hundreds of orphans at a dinner / concert the night before the World AIDS Marathon. A donation of exactly $11 will entitle you to receive a box of greeting cards, http://worldaidsmarathon.com/card.html. Each card you send has the potential of reaching out to other caring people like yourself so they may order a box of cards. The reality is you will be sending out at least 10 notes cards per year, so why not purchase cards where the net proceeds go to charity. The 2006 World AIDS Marathon will be held in Kisumu, Kenya, on December 1st, 2006. The marathon will be sponsored by the M. Brodsky Foundation and Kisumu AIDS Marathon Organization. Updates about the marathon and half-marathon, pre-race dinner for 500 orphans and 500 runners, post-race festivities and other activities will be posted shortly.

There will be free HIV-testing and counseling along the marathon and half-marathon routes. There will be small cash awards for the fastest runners and they are posted on the registration page, The race is foremost about the foundation’s mission: raising money for orphans so they can live in homes where they are loved and nurtured, helping families and individuals whose lives have been affected by AIDS or brain cancer, raising awareness that all people, especially expectant mothers must be tested for HIV so the expectant mother can take medicine that will substantially increase the likelihood that the new born child will be HIV-negative, and researching for cures or vaccines for both dreaded diseases. The net proceeds from the marathon will be going to AIDS and cancer charities as per the web link, http://www.richardmbrodsky.org/support.html. Why I started the M. Brodsky Foundation? I'm HIV-positive and I have brain cancer and I'm currently running a marathon a month (missed a few, broken collarbone, 12 stitches near eye) to raise awareness that 8,500 people do not have to die from AIDS every day. It's all about having access to AIDS medicine and leading an upbeat, healthy lifestyle. I'm blessed to have been born in a non-resource poor country where we take it for granted that doctors and medicine can prolong our lives.

But ask yourself the question: How would you fare living in resource-poor sub-Saharan Africa where you had no access to doctors, medicine, clean drinking water, and an adequate food supply? Hug your child good night, read them a bedtime story, and realize how lucky you are that your child is not one of the 14,000,000 orphans living in sub-Saharan Africa who has lost one or both parents to AIDS.

5) Stubington (Canada, for a project in Kenya):

For World AIDS Day, my Balkan Choir and an instrumental duo are giving a concert that is a fundraiser and awareness event for the Akonjo project in Kenya (this project is providing sanitary products to young women, so that they can continue being in school after the onset of menstruation, and is being organized by another ActALIVE member, Jimmy Ouma, of Artscool and MAAA Kenya).