192 countries later, social entrepreneurs complete world tour of art and
peace for the worlds children
After 620,
000 km of travel, founders of
Art in
All of Us return to
Belgium after reaching more than 18,400 children who have participated in their activities
BRUSSELS, BELGIUM,
30 January, 2009 -
Today, Art in All of Us founders and photographers,
Anthony Asael (Belgium) and
Stephanie Rabemiafara (
Madagascar) completed their world tour of art and peace for the worlds children
. In the last four years, the duo visited over
300 schools in all 192 UN-recognised countries, promoting creative and cultural exchanges among children, teachers, and administrators to advance and foster tolerance.
From Belgium to
North Korea though
Brazil and
Somalia, AiA worked with children in primary schools through art workshops that explored the themes of identity, self-expression, and tolerance. The participants have created more than 18,000 pieces of artworks and inspired over 160,000 photographs. Asael explains: We wanted to develop in children the curiosity and desire for knowing their close and distant neighbors.
Like many other children,
Syrian Noor, 10 years old, expressed her enthusiasm after the workshops: It was best day at school ever. We learned while playing. We could express our opinions freely and discovered the world of creative photography. It is also amazing to know that children from all countries in the world are participating in this project.
The Founders will now work on a book showcasing each of the 192 countries they visited through the best photographs, childrens poems and drawings. Its objective is to amplify the voices of children by showing the world through their eyes and rhymes.
Supported by local
NGOs, the
Ministry of Education in several countries, and
UNICEF, AiA also created sustainable programmes that will continue to stimulate creativity and cultural exchanges among the children who participated in the project. Stephanie Rabemiafara adds, We believe that a better future is possible if children are taught to communicate in a tolerant and peaceful way
.
Today, Art in All of Us is supported by
110 volunteers around the world. Its headquarters are located in
Brussels, Belgium, and
New York. The website is maintained in
Sweden, the book is being produced in
Chile, exhibits and lectures are being organized in
Panama, Belgium and
Canada. Regis Verschueren,
Secretary of the board, stated, AiA has been successful thanks to our founders and the network of volunteers. We hope to find the funds to employ staff and further develop our educational programs around the world.
About Art in All of Us
Art in All of Us (AiA) is a not for profit organization based in Belgium and in the
United States (
501(c)(3)) that promotes tolerance through artistic and cultural exchange activities throughout all the 192 UN listed countries. Backed by organization like the UNICEF,
SOS Children Villages,
Fundacion America and important network of volunteers, AiAs activities have reached more than 18400 children and 300 schools in 192 countries.
Press Contact Anthony Asael: anthonyasael@artinallofus.org
Press Kit :
http://www.artinallofus.org/news/press-interviews/presskit
.html
Website: www.artinallofus.org
Photographs: http://www.flickr.com/photos/anthonyasael/collections/
- published: 13 Feb 2009
- views: 1215