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Dear East African,
Welcome to the EAC's May Newsletter. As always,
much is transpiring. In April, the EAC's
third annual event successfully took place. It was
called "An Evening for a Village". There were almost 200
people in attendance. We were thrilled to see so many
of you come out and support our efforts. Thank you!
May is now filled with preparations for our upcoming
departure to Kenya. I am thrilled to say that seven out
of the EAC's ten Board Members will be traveling to
Kenya over the next six weeks. I can't wait to be joined
by so many of my team members in Takaungu Village. I
am confident that the experience will be long
remembered by all. --- Suzanne Wilson, EAC Executive
Director
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EAC Community Outreach |
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International Career Fair - The Jackson School of
International Studies at the University of Washington,
along with the Young Professionals International
Network of the World Affairs Council will be holding an
International Career Fair at the Husky Union Building
(UW, Seattle) on Thursday, May 15th from 4-6pm. Stop
by the EAC's booth to learn more about us, or just to
say hello.
On Saturday, May 17th, Ten Thousand Villages of
Seattle (Roosevelt Court, 6417 Roosevelt Way
NE, Suite 101 - Phone: (206) 524-9223) will be hosting
Fair Trade Day events. Among the day's educational
and entertaining festivities, Danstan Bagenda, the EAC's
Director of Education will be speaking on the connection
between free trade and women's economic and social
empowerment. Danstan will speak at 2pm. At noon,
there will be an All-Ages Rhythm Event with John
Hayden of Jamtown. There will be lots to learn and do.
Please join us all for this comfortable day of learning.
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Goodbye to Volunteers in Takaungu |
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In April, Frank Rolapp, Judd Hardy, Jennifer Glick and
Jesicah Rolapp left Takaungu. These incredible young
people had volunteered at Takaungu Primary School for
the last several months, and now they are returning to
the United States, one by one. Christy Nunez, Holly
Alexander and Luke Beck left in December, after three
months of volunteer work in Takaungu. Jennifer and
Jesicah arrived in January, joining Frank and Judd,
who'd been in Takaungu since August. All of them are
beautiful, strong, courageous people. All of them
deserve our gratitude and admiration.
Their leaving Takaungu is especially significant to the
EAC, because it concludes the first sessions of East
African Center volunteers serving in Kenya. Over the
past 10 months, we've grown accustomed to the
beautiful, edifying, and sometimes challenging letters
they send back to us here in Seattle. We've become
comfortable knowing that they were there, representing
the EAC and serving the people of Takaungu.
When Frank and Judd left for Kenya last August, it was
a daunting time for the EAC. Frank and Judd were our
very first volunteers to go to Kenya. We knew we
couldn't think of all the things to tell them, to prepare
them for the experience ahead of them. We knew from
our own time in Kenya that it would be both a
wonderful experience, and also occasionally frightening,
regularly frustrating, frequently confusing, and often
fraught with homesickness for familiar things. We also
know what it's like to miss Kenya and all our friends
there, to be infinitely grateful that we had the chance
to go to Kenya in the first place, and that the people of
Takaungu have welcomed us to work with them in their
village. Our worry for Frank and Judd-and for all the
volunteers who went later-was unnecessary. Despite
all the exceptional challenges that have been thrown
their way, things we never could have expected,
they've accomplished many wonderful things, and
taught us a lot along the way.
To each of our volunteers, we say: Thank you. We
can't adequately express our gratitude to you. We
couldn't ask more than what you've already given us
and the community of Takaungu. We are sad that you
are no longer in Takaungu-we miss you being there-
but we also welcome you home with blessings. We
hope that you will always think of Takaungu as you're
home, too.
Read letters from the volunteers... »
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An Evening for a Village |
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Saturday, April 12, saw the third annual event of the
East African Center. This year, the EAC hosted "An
Evening for a Village" at the Langston Hughes
Performing Arts Center in Seattle. This casual evening
featured a rousing performance by
the Total Experience Choir, during which we presented
a slide show taking us from our history as the Kenya
Kids AIDS Project into our future as the East African
Center. This was followed by the first public
presentation of our video, "Takaungu: Cultivating
Possibilities". Finally, we had a panel discussion with
some of the people who have taught and inspired many
of our board members as we developed the EAC. The
evening was lead by the Seattle Jaycees' James Wirth,
whose enthusiasm and energy gave the event both
levity and the depth it deserved.
I sat at the top of the theater for most of the show. It
was wonderful to see everyone clapping and seat-
dancing to the voices of the Total Experience Choir.
The truth and joy this incredible choir expresses
through music is powerful. As the choir
sang, I saw images of all the things we've accomplished
in the last three years, and all that we are working for,
projected behind the choir. Of course, I've seen these
pictures before as I worked on publications for the
EAC. But sharing them with so many people, with the
choir's voice in my ears, it was like I was seeing them
for the first time. For many in our audience, this was
the case.
After showing our video, "Takaungu: Cultivating
Possibilities," we introduced our five panelists, Jonathan
Mayer, Lucy Jarosz, and Lynn Thomas, all professors at
the University of Washington, as well as Danstan
Bagenda, a member of the EAC Board of Directors and
Tom Furtwangler, the brilliant filmmaker who directed
our video. The depth and intelligence of the questions
our audience presented delighted me. The lively
discussion of such important issues by individuals
throughout the audience was inspiring. I know
that the discussion could have gone on all
night. Following its conclusion, the crowd mingled in a
reception area where we could sip tea and talk more
intimately. African music moved over and under the
lively conversations taking place throughout the room-
thanks to Do and Lori Peterson of Science Groove.
There was laughter everywhere, but also a concern for
our mission that had drawn us all together.
If you missed "An Evening for A Village", but are still
interested in seeing our video, please contact us at
Contact@EastAfricanCenter.org, call (206) 271-9557,
or mail a check for $15 (write "Video" in the memo line)
to East African Center 109 West Mercer St., Seattle,
WA 98119, and we would be glad to send you a copy.
More about the EAC »
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Thank you! |
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The EAC is grateful to all of you who contributed to the
success of our recent event. Thank You! Without your
assistance, this year's "An Evening for a Village" would
never have been possible.
James Wirth*
Danstan Bagenda*
Jonathan Meyer*
Lynn Thomas*
Lucy Jarosz*
Tom Furtwangler*
Do & Lorrie Peterson*
Pat Wright & the Total Experience Choir*
Jessica Peters*
Marie Laczynski*
Katrina Bettis*
Diane Hopper*
Rose Wilson*
Crystal D. Hillin*
In addition, we thank the following businesses, which
each made contributions toward the event's silent
auction:
Afrikando West African Cuisine*
Ave Copy*
Barnes & Nobel*
Blockbuster Video*
Café Vita*
Full House Entertainment*
Gretchen Art*
Jamba Juice*
Jazz Alley*
KD House Cleaning Services*
Loew's Cineplex Theaters*
Massage Therapy Clinic*
Meany Hall for Performing Arts*
Museum of Flight*
Noah's Bagels*
Northwest Trek*
PW Kerr's*
Queen Anne Office Supply*
Red Robin*
Seattle Art Museum*
Seattle Aquarium*
Seattle Asian Art Museum*
Seattle International Children's Festival*
Seattle Supersonics*
Seattle Symphony*
The Soap Box*
Starbucks*
The Tea Cup*
Tully's Coffee*
Undies & Outies*
Wide World of Books & Maps*
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The EAC appreciates... |
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The Seattle Jaycees! The Seattle Jaycees made a
contribution to the EAC this month of $1200.00. As
many know, the Seattle Jaycees donate to the EAC
each month approximately 800 sq feet of office space,
as well as provide us with our telephone service, DSL,
and electricity. Thanks to the Seattle Jaycees, the EAC
is able to operate with minimal recurring overhead
expenses. The continued generosity of the Seattle
Jaycees is remarkable. Thank You!
Jan Secor! Jan Secor of the West Seattle Rotary has
been continually striving for ways in which the Rotary
can become increasingly involved in the efforts of the
EAC. Jan will personally be visiting Takaungu Village in
October, 2003. We are looking forward to Jan's visit
and are continuosly encouraged by Jan's interest in our
project. Thank You!
All of you who have made financial contributions to the
EAC this month. As we are about to leave for Kenya,
donations toward our efforts are particularly crucial at
this time. Each of you have made the continuation of
our work possible. Thank you for being a part of the
EAC!
Matt, Karol, Anna and Nate Wilson! This local family
recently held a garage sale, all profits of which were
donated to the EAC. Thank you for coming up with
such a creative way to assist!
EAC Website »
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