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2009-03-24T00:29:36-07:00
<p>The story begins en route to the airport…</p><p>On our last day in South Africa in 2002, my colleague and I met some remarkable teachers at a center for malnourished children and, being educators, we provided them with literacy training shortly before our departure. Inspired by the teachers’ responsiveness, we returned to Khayelitsha township to collaborate more extensively, bringing luggage filled with their requests: <a href="http://www.artaidsart.org/?s=2515&p=7253" target="_blank">children’s books and black dolls</a>. <br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Upon leaving, our luggage was again full: this time with beaded dolls purchased to support Khayelitsha parents trying to earn a living through their beadwork. Originally intended as gifts, we had another idea once home: sell the dolls and send the profits to secure the artists a much-needed workspace. Our event sold out and the artists were able to buy a shipping container, converting it into their first studio. <br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Now we travel to South Africa through the non-profit we’ve formed - <a href="http://www.artaidsart.org" target="_blank">Art Aids Art</a> - not only to teach, but to promote economic development by supporting artist collectives. In the U.S., we <a href="http://www.artaidsart.org/?s=2515&p=7251" target="_blank">sell at private homes</a> (zero overhead!) and from our <a href="http://www.lovingafrica.com" target="_blank">website</a>, earning thousands of dollars for Khayelitsha families. <br /></p><p><br /></p><p>In 2005, one of the artists informed us that she was selling her home in Khayelitsha. Could we use her property to benefit the community? Great idea! <br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Fortuitously, my colleague Dorothy (after the Wizard of Oz character) was approaching her 50th birthday. She provided friends with a gift idea. “Buy a piece of the Khayelitsha house, a ‘yellow brick’, because there’s no place like home.” <br /></p><p><br /></p><p>With these investments, Art Aids Art purchased the site, where we have just completed construction of <a href="http://artaidsart.blogspot.com" target="_blank">Home in the ‘Hood</a>, a base for our educational programs and an income-generating small business center. “Township tourism” is a fast growing sector of South Africa’s tourist industry. In recent years, international visitors have shown interest in: the art and culture of South Africa’s majority Black population; programs supporting underserved communities; and spending in ways that benefit economically disadvantaged populations.</p><p>With an art boutique, tea shop, tour service and B&B, Home in the ‘Hood will draw tourists to an area previously avoided due to blight. Establishing itself as Cape Town’s premiere township destination, Home in the ‘Hood will also benefit from the tourist boom that is expected to continue with the 2010 World Cup and beyond, supporting a community impacted by poverty and HIV/AIDS for years to come.<br /></p><p> </p>
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2009-05-31T23:12:13-07:00
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Bead by Bead, Brick by Brick: The Story of Home in the ‘Hood.
2010-01-01T10:58:23-08:00
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