designers4africa

April Star Davis interview with Molly Nance

2008-11-16T22:22:00.000-08:00

April Star Davis is following her instinct, her intuition, her gut. The message she is hearing is simple: help women in Africa. And most of all, she is listening to that voice within, and has accomplished what once seemed impossible. Davis, a jewelry designer who's work can be seen on many Hollywood stars and television series such as Melrose Place and Grey's Anatomy, is the founder of Designers 4 Africa, a collaboration of jewelry designers, artists and writers who share the one common goal of helping people. Within only a year's time, Davis has raised enough money through jewelry auctions to team up with Drop in a Bucket, a non -profit committed to bring safe, clean water to Uganda. The money Designers for Africa raised paved the way for a water pump to secure residency in a small Sudanese village, providing drinking water for 1,200 people. Now, that's progress. But there's more to Davis' quest. This California-born mother of one, refugee-resettlement volunteer, and business woman is welding together her compassion, bravery and business sense to aid women in Uganda and the Congo, in helping them establish their own jewelry businesses. And the adventure starts in only a couple of months, when Davis leaves the sunny San Diego sun and her family behind, for four solid weeks of adventure and education in two of the worlds poorest countries.

YOU ARE ALMOST 40 YEARS OLD WITH AN EIGHT YEAR OLD CHILD. WHAT DO YOU SAY TO PEOPLE WHO WANT TO DO WHAT YOU ARE DOING, BUT AREN'T PREPARED?

I'm hoping to encourage people, later in life, that yeah, You are a mom and have a job but you can still do this. If I can do it, anybody can, because it is not like I have any financial golden umbrella.

SPEAKING ABOUT MONEY, YOU SAY THAT YOU COME FROM "POOR ROOTS." TELL ME ABOUT THAT.

I was conceived in a hippie commune. I did come from poor roots, my family still considered lower middle class, poor. And so for me, in a way, and I know that my situation is not like the women in Uganda or the Congo, but I kind of relate. Like having to work; it is not really a choice. You have to do it, but in a way that you can still care for your kids. I feel like it was something that jewelry really gave me. And I'm really grateful for that. In essence, I want to give that gift to somebody else.

AT WHAT POINT DID YOU START THINKING MORE ABOUT HOW YOU CAN REACH OUT TO
THESE WOMEN IN AFRICA?

I started volunteering locally for a refugee resettlement, and that for me was the turning point, because I met a young girl from Liberia named Violet. One day we went to lunch, and it was one of those experiences that you hear about, but you don't really realize it. I took her to the food court in the mall and asked her, "Okay, what do you want?" And the look on her face, she was so overwhelmed...the concept that she even had a choice! So, I started looking at things from her eyes.

WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO ACCOMPLISH DURING YOUR FIRST TRIP TO UGANDA AND THE
CONGO?

In Uganda I my focus is to bring them supplies that they don't really have there, and teach them to basically, get them competitive. Hopefully we'll sell their jewelry on [LINK: http://www.designers4africa.org/] www.designers4africa.org and they would get all the money. In the Congo, they don't really have anyone they can sell it to, so for them it is almost therapeutic, I'll be basically teaching art therapy. I'd also like to try to let them know the facts about HIV and AIDs, because for many of these women, they think it is a death sentence, so they don't take care of themselves, they don't take their medicine. I want to tell them that they can live a long time.

last auction of the year

2008-10-01T12:45:00.000-07:00

Hello

Our next auction will be in dec its the last one this year & unfortunately there are many who have forgotten to send in their 4 pieces this year so were asking everyone to donate & any designers that havent we need you to please do so as we will be updating the site after this auction & starting a new list of CURRENT designers & moving all other names to a supporter page...

We have some exciting things happening... Danielle Gano of ELLE Communications is now doing pr for d4a & as a result we will be adding some big designers to our list! There will be much more publicity & traffic to d4a site... in addition the dropinthebucket fundraiser will be hosted by HENRY ROLLINS & there will be huge press & entertainers involved so this is not only a tax deduction but great way to get your name out there.

I will now be keeping track of auction items so please send your items direct to me at ASD po box 1531 la mesa ca 91944 & if fed ex or ups ASD 6955 mohawk st sd ca 92115

this auction has limited space so only higher end items & anything they cant use we will keep a d4a inventory for future auctions.

Next Feb I will be in Uganda & the Congo... I will be doing the ground work for future d4a sponsored programs & eventually we will start building schools...

Were getting our own 501 3 C & by end of 09 doing d4a fashion shows & events to sponsor these projects. Its an exciting time & we look forward to working with you all!

Cheers April

Note from April requesting help

2008-09-19T10:34:00.000-07:00

Feb. 09 April Star Davis founder of designers4africa africa trip

Hello

First i want to thank you all there's so many wonderful people that have either joined us as designers like the world renowned ME & RO Jewelry to author Judy Bernstein THEY POURED FIRE ON US FROM THE SKY to my amazing web person Alex Mateo & Sheela who runs the blog & has done all updates on the d4a web site... then there's friends like Dep Tauny of the SD SOUTH SUDANESE COMMUNITY CENTER & Danielle of ELLE Communications who has graciously started on pr for d4a.

Ok now the details... I have been trying to get to uganda for almost two years now & Feb. 09 I will finally be in Uganda & possibly get to the Congo.

In Uganda I will be with Pastor Issac who runs a community for widows & orphans that are affected by HIV/ AIDS

I will be teaching the women jewelry & bringing back jewelry to put for sale on d4a & my jewelry web site with all
profit going back to uganda. In addition I will be teaching AIDS/HIV facts as there are women mainly that have given
up & see it as a death sentence & forgo eating (giving the food to their children) & thus can not take their medicine &
to educate the community so they will not ostracize people living with HIV.

In the meantime I started a 100 pieces to uganda to raise the funds needed to get there , buy jewelry tools & buy
other supplies while im there like mosquito nets etc...

im putting names of anyone who buys from my web site in support of this project & am happy to list the following...

shreya gardiner
katie kelley
Leah Gordon
gayleen of Bubbles Boutique
Indra Gardiner Bowers
Anna Crivici
Cherie Devivo
Katie Kelley
anonymous
mimi Melgaard
greys anatomy wardrobe dept.
danielle gano elle communications
sheela rayala
fiona wolfe

The goal of this trip is to asses just how d4a can help & to get immediate funds thru jewelry sales for the women
there.

By end of 09 we will then start official fashion related fundraising shows & events & then start sponsoring a school
with the eventual goal of building our own d4a funded schools.

There are many great orgs doing this type of work & yet there is still more need & as a designer I see a great
opportunity to get our extra supplies & use our skills collectively to help people in africa & one day branch out to
other contents.

Sincerely, April S Davis

to order www.aprilstardavis.com
or donate for this trip

pay pal april@designers4africa.org

asd po box 1531 la mesa ca 91944

April Star Davis featured in World Artisan gems

2008-08-28T09:04:00.000-07:00

On Aug12, April Star Davis, founder of D4A and a very talented designer got featured on World Artisan Gems. To check out the entire feature, click on the exclusive featured badge

Here is the interview part of the feature...

Name: April Star Davis

Website Link: www.aprilstardavis.com

Where are you located? San Diego, California

Tell us a bit about yourself:

My Bio: April Star Davis started making jewelry 14 years ago while working at a bead store. There was and still is a lack of well-made affordable designer jewelry. “I wanted to make things that myself and friends could afford. I got the idea to make my own jewelry when I was working in a little bead store. I decided to go for it, so I quit my job. In the beginning, all I had was $60 and some beads. I certainly wasn’t making a lot of money, but I really loved what I was doing,” says Davis.

Stores were hesitant about purchasing from an unknown designer. Frustrated and broke, Davis had an epiphany one night while watching “Melrose Place.” She noticed that none of the actresses were wearing jewelry. Without any Hollywood connections, Davis took a D.I.Y. approach to getting her jewelry seen by the wardrobe folks at the hottest shows. “I bought a copy of Variety and the Hollywood Reporter and figured out who to call,” says Davis, who also is a painter that has shown in Los Angeles underground art venues like Cannibal Flower and Hanger 1013. “I was very surprised to find that the shows were so receptive to me and much more responsive than any of the stores I had tried to get my pieces into. Melrose Place was the first series to purchase my jewelry, and then it built up from there. To this day Denise Wingate, costume designer from Melrose Place, continues to use my jewelry & has on movies like Employee of the Month and The Wedding Crashers as well as Ghosts of Girlfriends Past with Jennifer Garner.”

For the last five years, Davis has created one-of-a-kind rings, bracelets and necklaces that have been showcased on cast members of Nip Tuck, Friends, ER, Charmed, All My Children. Desperate Housewives and Private Practice. Celebrities like Kate Moss, Jessica Simpson , Justin Timberlake and Tommy Lee have worn April Star Davis jewelry as well.

April Star Davis is an amazing jewelry designer that has been featured in In Style, Lucky, 944, Marie Claire and many more fashion magazines. She was showing her designs at an Accessories Show in New York City and she shared what buyers from Anthropologie, Free People, Henri Bendel and writers for Womens Wear Daily and OK! liked the most. She said 2-tone silver and gold jewelry was a really strong trend. Working with a chef’s butane torch and her favorite materials such as sterling, semi-precious stones like jade and pearls, Davis whips these gems up in her San Diego studio. Me & Ro Jewelry are a huge inspiration. Their look is great and they are one of the most involved with donating to charities as well as supporting causes like Doctors Without Borders and are a part of Designers 4 Africa. Designers 4 Africa is the brain child of April Star Davis. Designers 4 Africa is an organization which helps raise funds for different non-profits to help with projects in Africa. What makes April unique and stand out amongst others is that she makes everything herself. It is not “farmed out.” The more work she receives she is able to hire local women whom she knows from volunteering in the refugee community in San Diego.

Davis was also invited to teach jewelry and micro business to women in Gulu Uganda by 2005 Nobel Peace Prize nominee and star of a Fall Out Boy video Jolly Okot. April is currently assisting the director at the San Diego South Community Center and hoping to go to both Sudan and Uganda this year. Some companies say buying from them helps different organizations, however with April, you’re truly having a part in everything from local refugee resettlement to teaching in war torn countries. “My desire is to teach women a skill they can make money in & still be with their children while working, just like myself!”

When did you start designing jewelry/art? I don’t want to say as a child like most artist because it’s just silly (lol) so I will say 14 years ago when my friends and myself couldn’t afford to buy any nice jewelry so I started figuring out how to make my own.

What do you make? Everything (lol) - no Chinese or Burmese stones for political and humanitarian reasons.

What materials and methods do you use? Mainly recycled sterling and I use a simple cooking torch in my home studio. For casting I enroll in a class at UCSD to use their studio.

Where do your design inspirations come from? Sculptures like Alexander Calder and modern art.

Where can your products be seen? www.bettinaduncan.comwww.designers4africa.org

Upcoming events: August two events in San Diego (see web site)

Magazine articles or press: September Riviera Magazine Oct SD union tribune fall fashion spread

Who are you a fan of? Me and Ro, Tracy Matthews and all human rights activists!

Price range: $50- 400

Tell us a little about one of your favorite creations: My Tommy Lee necklace…it’s made from recycled sterling silver and looks great on men and women.

Tommy

Thank you April for this interview. It is wonderful to meet people like you who strive for change and work to make it happen. We hope this brings more designers to join Designers4Africa.

Next auction to support "water for Darfur"

2008-08-17T08:43:00.000-07:00

With our last auction, we have been able to buy a pump for school in Uganda thats now bringing safe water for over 1,200 kids.. we have helped the San Diego South Sudanese Community Center to keep their doors open & now were helping another org to
bring safe water to Darfur!

Dallas Artists Rally for Urgent Response (D.A.R.F.U.R.) hosts a silent auction to benefit Thirst No More

Caught in the midst of an on-going, five-year conflict, Darfuri refugees and displaced people suffer from malnutrition and dehydration as they wait for peace to settle in Sudan. At least 4.5 million Darfuri people rely on international aid
for survival. Over 2.5 million people have been forced to flee their homes, and over 400,000 have been killed.

Thirst No More is a humanitarian relief organization dedicated to relieving the suffering of people around the world. Sudan Project coordinator, Charlie Michalik, is a U.S. Army veteran of the first Gulf War and has extensive experience
in the Mid-East. For the past three years he has been restoring broken water wells in Darfur and laying the groundwork for a water drilling operation that will begin shortly.

D.A.R.F.U.R., as part of Art for Darfur, asks for your artistic contribution to raise funds that will bring water to the suffering people of Darfur.

For jewelry and small items such as handbags etc., please send your contribution directly to

Ashley Epes
7601 Churchill Way #1738
Dallas, TX 75251

Event Date: Saturday, September 20, 2008
Event Time: 7 p.m. – 10 p.m.
Event Location: The Cameron Gallery
1414 Dragon Street
Dallas, TX 75207
Installation: Thursday, September 18
Drop off: On or before Thursday, September 11
Medium: All mediums welcome.
Size: No taller than 8 ft., no wider than 5 ft.
Commission: Donations only. All proceeds will be donated to Thirst No More.

www.thirstnomore.com

100 pieces for Uganda

2008-08-11T15:37:00.000-07:00

Buy a beautiful piece of jewelry and Help empower women in Uganda

Most of you know that last year I formed designers4africa, a non-profit organization and have been able along with the group of designers do some great things for non profits serving africa (see blog http://www.designers4africa.org)

Last year I met 2005 Nobel Peace Prize nominee Jolly Okot of HEALS & Invisible Children .

She was watching me make jewelry in my studio in my backyard & asked if I could teach this to her girls in Uganda...
These are young women & teenaged girls who were abducted by ( ) & cast off once they were impregnated by their
captures... I couldn't say no & Im HONORED to do anything I can for these women.

Well now comes the part of raising enough money for travel & bring supplies to teach. (next year d4a will be a fully accredited non profit but it takes up to a year to get that documentation).

So I had this idea... If I sell 100 pieces of jewelry at an average price of $50 I will have all the money needed to see not only this dream of teaching in Uganda but starting schools there in the next 5 years!

Everyone who orders off my web site & give permission, their names will be published on a special supporters page both on d4a &
asd web sites.

Here are my first five wonderful supporters! 95 to go!

Shreya gardiner
Sheela rayala
Leah Gordon
Gayleen of Bubbles Boutique
Indra Gardiner Bowers

We can help atleast a few women re-create their lives and gain financial freedom.
Please visit www.aprilstardavis.com and order a piece today.
- April Star Davis, founder of Designers4Africa.

Darfur San Diego chapter to be started

2008-08-10T13:15:00.001-07:00

Apart from starting and continuously raise funds for Africa through Designers4Africa, April is starting a San Diego chapter for Darfur.org. We all know and are aware of Darfur and the cause can use all the help it can get. I will post more details about the chapter but if you want to help or participate in any capacity, please email to April .

Fundraiser details

2008-04-25T12:27:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the long silence. We were waiting for some more details on the auction and thought we will pictures soon and so waited....:) But you know how it goes...we still don't have pictures from the auction but thought atleast we will post a thank you note for all the designers who donated for this occasion:

The auction was for an event called water for sudan & d4a donations went direct to The San Diego South Sudanese Center....the center provides services like after school tutoring & help in filling out employment applications as well as giving the community a place to gather as they are new refugees as well as children of & there is culture shock & the need for a place to keep up their customary traditions & network with others here who volunteer in helping them in their resettlement.

THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR YOUR GENEROUS DONATIONS. I will post more details as to how much was raised that day etc once we get details from the SD south Sudanese Center.

Me & ro
Kukivi
Bijou biju
K amato
Lily baubles
Tracey matthews
Roundtree & richardson
Wendy culpepper
1313
Etre Designs
In the raw
Inpeloto
Urban dencity
Ethnic rocks
Isharya
Julia bristow
Shama Designs
April star davis jewelry
Penncentral west

Calling all designers....for the first auction of 2008

2008-02-13T07:54:00.000-08:00

It's D4A's first auction of the year!.

When: March 27
Whom: The South Sudanese Center
Cause: Build wells in Sudan to provide drinking water
Benefit: apart from that great feeling of being part of the great cause, your company's name will get more audience, your logo and link to your website will be placed in D4A website, list of companies with a small blurb will be published in D4A blog.

The last auction in Oct 2007 was a huge success and managed to raise enough funds for turnabout pump which is bringing safe water to a school of over
1,200 in Uganda. This time there are even more designers participating but we can use more designers to raise even more money to help with the cause.

It doesn't need to be your hottest design. Even designs from the last holiday season would be a great contribution. Please send an email to April@aprilstardavis.com to sign up.

We are trying to get more press for the event too. And there is a good possiblity of having some celebrities attendign the event!

Note from John Travis of Dropinthebucket

2008-01-16T23:53:00.000-08:00

When Drop in the Bucket first started their Myspace page one of the first friends that we made was Designers4Africa who had such an amazing and simple idea that it amazed us all that it hadn't been done before. Creative people create and are not always the best at marketing or selling their art so they often end up with great things that they have put time, effort, love, thought and often money into. At the end of their season they are often left with things that they wish people could see and enjoy.

Designers for Africa provides a way for creative people to put these items to use doing something positive, raising money for great causes. Drop in the Bucket was honored to be the recipients of the first auction donations from Designers for Africa, April, Kuumba and all of the designers were a joy to deal with we ended up with an amazing auction that was full of a wide variety of jewelry and even a book signed by the author. The range of prices made it possible for everyone to be able to bid on items and feel part of the event, including people working at the venue, but also helped us raise a good amount of money.

At the end of the night we had raised a lot of money and we were able to credit the Designers4Africa part of the auction with having raised sufficient funds to put a roundabout pump on the well at the Masafu Primary school in Masafu, Uganda.
Drop in the Bucket feels very fortunate to have connected with April Star Davis and all of the designers involved with Designers4Africa and looks forward to working with them in the future, it is an amazing concept and an incredible organization.

Sincerely,
John Travis
www.dropinthebucket.org

Musings from April and request for sponsors

2008-01-01T10:30:00.000-08:00

John Prendergast has had a huge influence on me. John is an American human rights activist focused on bringing international attention to the genocide in
Sudan and the atrocities of the Lord's Resistance Army in Northern Uganda. Inspite of an always full schedule, he had still given me the time and encouragement in starting d4a & its my sincere hope to have d4a donate items to any fundraiser ENOUGH needs them for.

Volunteering in refugee resettlement & currenntly trying to get family members of a good friend Ida Toe (Liberia) reunited are the fuel that keeps me striving to do all I can to help orgs serving Africa.

Although I havent met or spoken with Mr . Prendergast in person, I hope to when he is lecturing next in Calif. I dont know how to thank him or tell him the huge impact his work has on me personally but will try & put words into action.

Our first d4a fundraiser in Oct 2007 helped to bring safe water to an orphanage in Uganda that serves over 1,000+ kids. I guess thats how to thank him best! I wont stop there though. There's so much to be done & thru my jewelry I sincerely hope to contribute as much as possible.

In Oct 08 I am planning (if funds come thru) to go to Uganda & meet Jolly again from Invisible Children & together we will start micro business for women in Gulu.

Im looking for sponsors to help with the cost as well as to start this program. Please contact april@aprilstardavis.com for more information on this upcoming program or interested in sponsoring.

- April
www.aprilstardavis.com

International Rescue Committee - The IRC

2007-12-09T12:16:00.000-08:00

Another organization that D4A will be working with to raise funds is The IRC . IRC works in multiple countries across the world helping refugees/displaced families including Iraq and Congo where there is a lot of violence and terrified families.

While going through the site, came across their blogs about IRC helping in Jordan where they opened doors for Iraqi refugees recently. It had a sweet story by Melissawinkler of a happy moment there. In another blog, another story unveiled that is so disturbing and makes you wonder what is going on in Africa. This story is about raping of Congo women and girls which just shows how many different problems that great continent is facing. Hundreds of thousands are displaced in North Kivu due to violence particularly in the Rutshuru district and the nearby hospital is under-resourced (ofcourse!) while lot of cases are coming in with malaria, respiratory infections that could be life-threatening if not treated.

In the Invisible children case, children couldn't sleep at home in fear of terrorists abducting them and so walk miles to a city/town to sleep in the hospital and bus parks. In the Congo women's case, they too are afraid of sleeping at home and so go into the forest to sleep. IRC is responding with emergency aid and launching counseling services and training health workers on clinical care for victims or rape. It must be equally hard on the aid workers too to be in the middle of war zone and provide the counselling and medical aid.

While I can't imagine how long and how many organizations/people effort its going to take to get all these regions settled and restore peace and basic human needs, I keep wondering how many years/generations its going to take to actually heal these deep wounds on their hearts!.

Kudos to IRC for providing such awesome services everywhere there is a need.

-Sheela

Fundraiser for Drop in the Bucket

2007-12-04T10:58:00.000-08:00

It took a little while to streamline everything and get the blog added to the Designers4Africa website. April sent some pictures from the annual fundrasier for "Drop in the Bucket" to share with everyone. "Drop in the Bucket" is another non-profit organization that D4A supports. Its an organization started by a group of friends and their mission is to provide safe drinking water to African villages. It started in Fall of 2006 (just a little over an year) and already have 6 wells done and working on their 7th one. Check out their website for more info.

Quite a few designers donated exquisite pieces for this fundraising event. Ivy and Natalie of Dixie Chicks were there. Sounds like a fun party:)

I will try to get more juicy details about the party but thought I will share some of the pictures of the jewelry. Here's one by AprilStarDavis jewelry. Beautiful Smokey Quartz roundelles handwrapped with a Labradorite pendant. Gorgeous isn't it.

This is an exquisite necklace by Kuumba Divine Jewelry. A choker of gold vines with chockful of Pearls to make any woman feel special. I love the wild look of it yet the Pearls somehow make it delicate.

This elegant beauty was donated by Me&Ro and is called "Loveheart" with a Sterling Silver heart pendat in the center and Garnets individually handwrapped and is sure to make anyone peek at it twice.

This Limited Edition necklace set is by TraceyMathew designs. Simple coral in its natural shape with a few drops handwrapped - would make a great addition to anyone's jewelry collection.

Lastly, here's a pciture of how funt he party was....

Invisible Children

2007-11-21T12:51:00.000-08:00

I thought I will start off a series of blogs talking about the current non-profit organizations that D4A work with. well, Invisible Children came to my mind and I started to look for info. After Fiona pointed me to the official website for Invisible Children, I had to see the movie ofcourse.

I have read and seen a lot of documentaries/movies before on various themes from poverty to how women/children treated but this movie took me by quite a surprise. I guess the description should have given me some hint but that went unregistered. Couldn't stop crying throught out the movie. I know its not about me here but just wanted to say that it moved me soo much. Maybe because now I am a mother and can't imagine my little one going through anything even remotely close to what I saw in the movie.

I will take a little time to gather info about the IC, its projects and ties with Africa et.al but let me start off with imploring all of you to take an hour of your time to watch this movie.

--Sheela Rayala

Here's the movie synopsis from the Invisible Children website.

Invisible Children: Rough Cut Movie Synopsis:
What started out as a film-making adventure in Africa, transformed into much more, when the three young American’s Jason Russell, Bobby Bailey, and Laren Poole) original travels took a divine turn, and they found themselves stranded in
Northern Uganda. They discovered children being kidnapped nightly from their homes and subsequently forced to become fight as child soldiers. This film is dedicated to exposing this tragic, and amazingly untold story.

Even at this moment, in Uganda, Children as young as 8 are methodically kidnapped from their homes by a rebel group called the “Lord’s Resistance Army” (LRA). The abducted children are then desensitized to the horror of brutal violence and killing, as they themselves are turned into vicious fighters. Some escape and hide in constant fear for their lives. Most remain captive, and grow to maturity with no education other than life “in the bush” and fighting in a guerilla war. Of the many ramifications that a 20 -year-long war can cause, the film “Invisible Children: Rough Cut” highlights what the community refers to as “NIGHT COMMUTERS.” We watch thousands of children “commute” out of fear, from their villages to nearby towns each night in order to avoid the LRA (Lord’s Resistance Army) abductions. They sleep in public places, vulnerable, and without supervision.

This film focuses in on 4 young boys: Jacob, Thomas, Tony, and Boni. Through their eyes, we relive the terror of abduction, courage of survival, the heartbreak of losing a brother, and the innate joy- found only in a child. The three filmmakers (Jason, Bobby, and Laren) were amazed to find many things in common between these kids and kids in America, themselves included.

As the three left Northern Uganda, they were appalled by what they had seen, and yet, in awe of the resilience and hope they found in these children, and this community. The filmmakers thought: How could such an atrocity exist for such a long
time, without the world knowing? Believing that the “invisible children’s” story could inspire others to do something, as it did them, they created a documentary, which we now know as the “Invisible Children: Rough Cut”.

They originally screened the film in June 2004 for friends and family and soon expanded to high schools, colleges, and organizations. After audiences viewed the movie, one question repeatedly surfaced, “what can we do?”
And so, a nonprofit was birthed out of a film.

THE UNITED NATIONS ESTIMATES 300,000 CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 18 ARE CURRENTLY FIGHTING IN CONFLICTS AROUND THE WORLD AND HUNDREDS OF
THOUSANDS MORE ARE MEMBERS OF ARMED FORCES - EITHER BEING TRAINED FOR COMBAT OR USED AS LABORERS. PHYSICAL, SEXUAL AND EMOTIONAL ABUSE IS
COMMONPLACE. MOST OF THESE CHILDREN WERE FORCIBLY CONSCRIPTED OR ABDUCTED BY FIGHTING FORCES TO BECOME INSTRUMENTS OF WAR, TO KILL OR BE
KILLED. WITHOUT EXCEPTION, THE EXPERIENCE HAS DEVASTATING EFFECTS ON THEIR PHYSICAL, PSYCHOLOGICAL, AND INTELLECTUAL DEVELOPMENT

A special moment with Jolly Okot...

2007-11-07T13:23:00.000-08:00

The most important person to wear my jewelry & you have probally never heard of her..

Jolly Okot, Country Director, Uganda

Jolly is our inside informant, our African mother, and our friend. "Invisible Children" is proud of Jolly's recent nomination for the 2005 Nobel Peace Prize, for her rehabilitation efforts in Northern Uganda. Jolly has been an inspiration to us all, and we are honored to have her work with us to end the repression In Northern Uganda through education. Jolly has been working through her own foundation "H.E.A.L.S.", a play therapy program which has now merged with IC toward the execution of the Invisible Children Education Program. She is responsible for advising any IC staff on culture and tradition, and keeping the program running in Uganda.

Jolly is a devoted daughter, sister, wife, and mother. When Jolly is not working for the children in Northern Uganda, she is at home with own children: Daniel, Davis, and Danika (or "baby D"), and her loving husband, Emmy.I had the pleasure of meeting Jolly , Davis & baby D when they were here in USA for the IC Displace me event.... My friend Fiona who volunteers with Invisible Children brought them to my little house & we went in back to my tiny studio... like most women we all played with the jewelry trying on different styles & combos & Jolly picked out a beautiful gold & tourmaline necklace & gold lotus hoop earrings... She looked at herself & said she felt like a movie star!Well like Ive said many times shes far more than any movie star!

Im honored & delighted to have my craft bring joy to such am amazing women & in all honesty thats who my jewelry is for! Amazing women!!!

----April

Welcome to our new blog

2007-11-07T05:40:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the Designers4Africa blog. Designers4Africa is a non-profit organization is made by the group of designers, businesses and authors that want to do more in the fight to end global poverty. We aim to do this by donating( 4 items min. yearly ) to non profits . we will help non profits raise much needed funds…most of us here are involved in charitable giving however we all know in our industry there are loads of samples & extras , this is a way to put them to the best use possible!John Travis from Drop in the Bucket has refereed to it as artistic recycling
Non profits that we support currently: Invisible Children (clinic fund run by Fiona Wolfe), IHFonline & Drop In the Bucket.

In the next few days, we will share insights from people like Fiona Wolfeof Invisible Children, John Travis of Drop in the Bucket and musings of April (www.aprilstardavis.com) and her vision of Designers4Africa.

Stay tuned….