30,000 of Our Closest Friends
AIDS Walk NYC 2013
By Guest Blogger Brian C.
Those scheduled to attend might have looked out their windows to see the pouring rain under dark clouds in a Sunday morning sky and thought, "I already made my donation...I think I'll stay in." I know the thought crossed my mind. A 10-kilometer walk in the best of circumstances is daunting. And AIDS Walk NYC 2013 was a charity event so concentrated on single-day performance that the city's awful forecast loomed as a serious threat to its success. For many scheduled to attend, curling up on a dry sofa with a good book probably seemed like a welcome alternative to braving the nasty.
But so, Global Camps Africa (GCA), along with its donors, sponsors, families and over 30,000 of our closest friends proudly gathered in New York City under Central Park's dripping spring canopy. GCA was one of hundreds of teams there, where each had arrived to represent its piece of a vital international HIV/AIDS relief effort.
Global Camps Africa was, in many ways, leading Sunday's charge. Its team started preparing for the event over a month ago with a few specific goals: Let's register 50 team members, and let's raise $10,000. They did that, and more.
I was there to witness this. My wife, Emily, and I drove to the city, and we brought our 3-year-old son. He jumped into my backpack, ready to go for a ride. But it was all a first for me. I had never before taken the AIDS Walk – not in NYC, not in SF, or any of the other prominent cities where the event is held. It was completely new, and seeing such a mass of humanity join together in purpose was flatly overwhelming. See, I may not have the opportunity to directly impact the children that GCA aims to empower. I may not find myself in the position to become a vocelli, or visit Camp Sizanani in South Africa. It just may not be in the cards. But an event like this gives us a rare opportunity to tap into a palpable sense of community – it feels like the highest potential of a life. I'd recommend it and anything like it. I would recommend that you squeeze your loved one, make your donation, and go for your walk. Brave whatever weather comes your way. I, for one, will do this again.
Jewelry Artist Supports GCA Through Her Work
After studying fine art at the Corcoran School of Art, Martha Lytton Van Trees now crafts beautiful and unique jewelry of copper and silver. She says of her art, “I make out-of-the-ordinary modern jewelry for the out-of-the-ordinary modern woman or man.” Martha calls her line of jewelry “Urban Jule” defining “jule” as quirky, someone who does things out of the ordinary, a hot girl with bold looks.
Martha sells her handcrafted designs on Etsy and at Northern Virginia markets and craft fairs, including the Lake Anne Saturday Farmers Market near the Global Camps Africa office in Reston. She has committed to donate a percentage of the sale of all earrings to GCA.
“I was invited to the Global Camps Africa fundraising event,” she said, “and was blown away when I heard about the work you’re doing in South Africa. I want to contribute what I can to be part of that.”
Martha’s Etsy shop can be found at http://www.etsy.com/shop/UrbanJule. Coming soon...check out her new line of African inspired earrings!
U.K. Ends Aid to South Africa
It sounds like bad news, right? But the British government explains its decision to stop sending aid to South Africa as a vote of confidence in the emerging African economy. $29.5 million in planned financial support will not flow from the U.K. to South Africa in 2015, because, according to the British International Development Secretary, South Africa can afford to pay its own development bills.
In the country with the highest number of HIV-infected people in the world, the cost to the government of providing healthcare and other needed social services is high. Though the British aid being terminated constitues only a small part of South Africa's annual budget, one wonders what the impact of decreasing financial resources might be on these individuals - many of whom are already living on the margins.
Is cutting aid to South Africa another route to empowering South Africans? Or is it a dangerous decision that may jeopardize the tenuous progress being made there in the fight against HIV?
To read more about the U.K.'s decision, click here.
A beautiful evening celebrating Camp Sizanani
Daniel Greenburg and Kabelo Malefane
Photo by Andrew Propp
On Saturday, April 27th, at 6:00 PM an unusual sound could be heard echoing through the elegant lobby of Oracle's office building in Reston, Virginia. Drumming. As Daniel Greenburg played beautiful rhythms on various percussion instruments, guests at Global Camps Africa's Celebrate Sizanani 2013 immediately caught the spirit of the evening's event. And when South African Camp Sizanani Director, Kabelo Malefane, joined him, the tone for the night was set.
Silent Auction
Photo by Andrew Propp
Guests at the sold-out event enjoyed South African wine, an extensive silent auction offering, beautiful music sung by the children of Laurel Learning Center, and delicious appetizers donated by various local restaurants (click here to see donors and sponsors).
Senator Harris Wofford
Photo by Andrew Propp
After a wonderful dinner, the Honorable Harris Wofford - one of the
co-chairmen of the event - shared his experience visiting Camp Sizanani
with his grandson. He expressed how deeply both he and his grandson
appreciated their time there, and how important he considers the work
that Global Camps Africa is doing.
Kabelo Malefane and Phil Lilienthal
Photo by Andrew Propp
Phil Lilienthal, the President & Founder of Global Camps Africa, then introduced Kabelo Malefane. Kabelo came to the United States just for this special event and he took the opportunity to thank all of the generous supporters of Global Camps Africa for making Camp Sizanani possible. "Without Camp Sizanani," he said, "the children in my neighborhood would not realize that it is possible for them to take control of their lives. They would believe that it is their fate to follow in the footsteps of their parents or older siblings who dropped out of school, could not find work, abused drugs and alcohol, sold their bodies for money, and were sick with HIV." At Camp Sizanani, Kabelo said, the children are given hope through education. "Without education, there can be no progress."
Following Kabelo's remarks, Ken Plum led a spirited live auction. After bidding on trips, sports memorabilia, and other great items, guests were asked to bid on various levels of support for Camp Sizanani. The auction paddles featured the faces of Camp Sizanani campers on one side and the phrase, "Light Up Sizanani" on the other. As the guests raised their paddles, the children's faces were lifted high over the crowd, reminding everyone of the most important reason they were there that evening.
Celebrate Sizanani Event SOLD OUT!
We're thrilled to announce that this year's Celebrate Sizanani event is sold out! Thank you to everyone who purchased tickets and sponsorships for the event - we're looking forward to seeing you all on Saturday, April 27th at the Oracle headquarters in Reston.
If you're not able to join us in person, you can still bid on our amazing selection of live and silent auction items. Check out the auction catalog and contact Ann Granger (ann.granger@globalcampsafrica.org) to submit your bids.
Stay tuned to our website for photos and updates after the festivities.