Darfuri Design at National Geographic

Giulia & her editor are pleased to report that a special edition of the Basket of Peace, crafted by weavers at Darfur Peace & Development Organization’s Kassab Women’s Center, is featured in the National Geographic Society's Spring 2011 Catalogue.

Read about the Weaver's Cooperative in Kassab Camp & like DPDO's Facebook page. Thanks!

ciao-meow/GG Spring Central

(photographs: Hadja by Susan Burgess-Lent/DPDO/2 National Geographic)

Darfur Peace & Development Organization - Annual Report 2009

Darfur Peace & Development Organization's Annual Report (2009) is available here, in pdf format. Below are some highlights from the report, & here is a link to listen to Program Director Susan Burgess-Lent’s interview on Circle Connections BlogTalk radio program. She discusses the progress and status of the Darfur Women’s Centers.

We hope that you will consider buying a basket or two, to donate a small sum to the high school under construction, to any of the worthy programs. GG's editor assures you that money goes from you directly to Sudan, with very little spent in administrative costs. (DPDO financial reports, here).

Thank you so much.

[front cover & children at daycare center in Abu Shouk canmp by Susan Burgess-Lent/DPDO/all rights reserved]

Highlights from DPDO Annual Report - 2009:

The global economic crisis in 2009 created many challenges for humanitarian aid organizations--including DPDO. In the face of diminishing donations, we strengthened strategic planning to continue meeting the needs of program beneficiaries. DPDO board and staff have rededicated themselves to continue the vision and the mission of the organization.

This would not have been possible without our dedicated schools and supporters in the U.S., in particular, Ante Up for Africa, a celebrity organization that donated a total of $500,000. This funding enabled construction to begin on Gangy High School for orphans in El Fasher, near one of the largest IDP camps in North Darfur. The site has a new water well that provides 2000 gallons per hour for the school and neighboring IDPs. With construction underway as of September 2009, the school expects to enroll 460 students in June 2010.

Our Women’s Center beneficiaries have increased to 218 weavers, sixty literacy trainees, and 150 children in a pre-school program. Fifty-seven women were trained in first aid at the Centers in cooperation with the Sudanese Red Crescent Society.

In 2009, the Solar Cooker Program trained 184 beneficiaries in Malit, in Sakali camp, South Darfur, in Abuja and Abu Shouk camps near El Fasher, and at Ahfad University, Khartoum and in El Haj-Yousif (Khartoum North).

DPDO’s Schools Program has undergone significant change. The level of funding has not allow continued, equitable payment of teacher and staff salaries. Instead, we are improving the education environment by providing teacher and student supplies and additional resources for water.

With the support of the UNICEF, we were able to supply 37 schools in North Darfur with a total enrollment of 19,352 students. A goal for 2010 is to begin rehabilitation and reconstruction of classrooms, teacher offices and latrines.

Omer Ismail and Suliman Giddo were highly engaged in the process of bringing peace to Darfur as neutral third parties consulting with and unifying all conflicted parties. They completed five missions to Sudan, eight to Chad, four to Addis Ababa (Ethiopia), three to Egypt, two to Libya, and four missions to Doha. In collaboration with ICAR, American University and Siena University in Italy, DPDO brought top leaders from seven Darfur rebel groups to Siena for five days consultation on unification.

Even with sustained growth and success, DPDO faces real challenges to continue serving our beneficiaries and to bring peace in Darfur. As always, we turn to our supporters and donors. Their generosity enables us continue our humanitarian work for the war-affected people of Darfur.

2008 DPDO Annual Report

Full 2007 Annual Report (pdf format)

In Darfur - Theater J Production

Based on true events, this impeccably researched chronicle of the unfolding genocide in Sudan is a searing story of humanitarian urgency and compromised journalistic ethics. Can one woman's story stand for the plight of a nation? And what are the costs of mobilizing world opinion?*

The production begins with two pay-what-you-can shows, 31 March & 1 April. The run continues through 18 April 2010. For box office information, click here. Beyond-the-Stage free discussions will take place throughout the run; here is the schedule. (Ms. Winter Miller, the playwright, & director Derek Goldman will be at the 4 April discussion.)

If you cannot see the play for any reason, please do consider one of the discussions. Hope to see you there!

*This production includes loud gunshots and depicts intense scenes of physical violence. Not recommended for children younger than 13.

[images via Theater J & MiaFarrow.org]

Ante Up for Africa in DC - Save the Date

The high-spirited folks from Ante Up For Africa will be in Washington, DC to raise funds for Darfur Peace & Development Organization (DPDO), Enough Project, & Refugees International on April 14, 2010. Update: Here is Enough Project's blog announcement of registration for Ante Up.

Please visit Ante Up for Africa for details. GG wants to go, of course. (We do not expect an invitation but have yet to break this dreadful news. A disappointed orange cat is not a happy sight.)

ciao-meow/GG's editor

[image via lilitu/catland gallery]

Ante Up for Africa

Ante Up for Africa donates $200,000 to construct Darfur Peace & Development Organization's new high school.

DPDO is happy to announce that Ante Up for Africa has generously donated $200,000 to help construct Gangi High School in El Fasher, Darfur. Ante Up for Africa, founded by Don Cheadle, Annie Duke, and Norman Epstein, was created to raise money and awareness for relief efforts in Darfur. To complete construction, DPDO needs to raise an additional $100,000.

In November, DPDO completed construction on a 280-ft. perimeter wall surrounding the high school compound. Construction on the main buildings will begin this month. The high school will feature six classrooms, two libraries, two computer labs, four teacher offices, dormitories, and a cafeteria. In order for students to enroll for the school year beginning in May, construction must be completed by April. DPDO will enroll 460 students, many of whom were orphaned due to the Darfur conflict.

Please support education in Darfur this holiday season by donating to the Gangi High School Project. Donate online by Visa, Mastercard, or PayPal here: www.darfurpeace.org/help.

Thank you to everyone who helped in 2009!

[Nina Leen photograph via LIFE Archives]

Darfur Peace & Development - Annual Report 2008 & Urgent Request

Darfur Peace & Development Organization (DPDO) has released its Annual Report 2008*, here. DPDO is the only Darfuri-led U.S.-based NGO still operating on-the-ground in Darfur, Sudan.

Emergency request: We were going to leave this at the release announcement, but donations are off due to the global financial crisis. While this is understandable, DPDO finds itself short to pay day-to-day operations, much less development. If you look at administrative costs, you will see that they are very low.

DPDO is asking for emergency donations of $1, $5, or $10 through the website & its Facebook page. Things are tough, really tough. If you can help, please know that anything you donate goes straight to people on-the-ground.

A big thank-you to all.

(*Printed copy requests through the website or download as a PDF).

[Peak Near Wilfag by Susan Burgess-Lent, DPDO/all rights reserved/cover of DPDO AR2008/all rights reserved]

Darfur Fast for Life

Outside of Darfur fasting is an option, even a health choice (a pretty dodgy one, actually). It's quite the opposite for those trapped inside Darfur who are out of options. This is it: out of options. We are not messing around now; we're angry.

Here is the Darfur Fast for Life website with links to information. Please also check with Enough Project. Raise holy hell--especially on what is Mother's Day. Can you imagine how these mothers are feeling right now?

A Darfur peace conference in Ethiopia has been cancelled because on Friday night Darfuri leaders were told they would not be allowed to attend. We are almost used to this by now; you may not be. But let's just tell you why this should matter to you...though we can hardly believe we'd have to. Look at a map, locate Sudan, locate where in the world this is, the countries to which it is adjacent. No one wanted to hear about Somalia either, until pirates took an American ship. Don't come to us, we told you a year ago, when the Horn blows back on North America, Europe, elsewhere. A little (enlightened) self-interest is a good thing. Think about it.

[photo courtesy of IRIN: Women recently displaced by fighting in North Darfur have settled in a camp for displaced people in Zamzam, south of El-Fasher/© Heba Aly/IRIN]

a fuming ciao-meow/GG Central

Incandescence - Week's End

We hope you have a lovely weekend. (First photo credit, click on photo. Second photograph, Kutum, Darfur, Sudan by Susan Burgess-Lent/DPDO/all rights reserved.) The GG blog turns one-year old on Monday. Hope to see you then. Happy May Day.

ciao-meow/GGCM

The Flowers of Darfur

Here are some...look at the color! These flowers are busy weaving the most gorgeous baskets; they are members of a women's collective organized by Darfur Peace & Development Organization (DPDO). A shipment of baskets arrives in the States about every three months. They are gorgeous, colorful, & resilient, just like the artisans. GG's editor can personally attest to this (as if you wouldn't believe it anyway!). We'd love it if you visited the site & saw how to order one. Or even just read about these lovely women & how they are getting on. We await a field report but have received new photos from Khartoum (where many Darfuris are living). These are from last May, by Susan Burgess-Lent (all rights reserved), Program Director of DPDO. We'll be publishing new photos soon....Have a colorful evening. ciao-salaam-meow/GG/mgmt

Determined in Darfur - Week's End

Determined to survive & thrive. Please visit our dear friends at Darfur Peace & Development Organization. Our friend Susan Burgess-Lent is leaving tonight for Sudan. DPDO is the only Darfuri-led US-based NGO still working in Sudan. They do a stellar job & are the nicest of people. They run schools & a women's center, among many things. More to follow. (women along the road by Susan Burgess-Lent/used with permission/all rights reserved)

a determined ciao-meow! GG/mgmt

Worlds collide...

We can't bear to put a photograph of Bashir of Sudan on the site today; we have to look at photos of him every day. As anyone who reads this knows by now, the ICC issued the arrest warrant this morning. This is a new chapter starting; it may take a long time, but he will be in the dock to have a fair trial--someday. It is complicated but here is a link to Nick Kristof's blog on the New York Times; you will find it very concise & succinct & updated as of this afternoon. Nick has been several times, so he knows whereof he speaks. Also, as always, Enough Project.

good night, buona notte, baci...
GG/editor

(The Rome photograph is from Giampaolo Macorig's fabulous flickrstream.)

Darfur awaits ICC decision - March 4th

Today. From Enough Project blog, Enough Said:

"This morning, the International Criminal Court announced the date when the Court’s Pre-Trial Chamber will issue its decision concerning Chief Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo’s application for an arrest warrant against Sudanese president Omar al-Bashir. The decision will be announced by a press release and publication on the ICC website on March 4."

photo © Claire Mc Evoy/IRIN]- courtesy IRIN

Out of Exile

An important event notice for Tuesday, 10 February, in Washington, DC. If you're here or will be here, there might still be room for you; give a call or send an email (see below). Putting Darfur together with Southern Sudan, & other areas of the country that are in turmoil or on the verge, is essential to address the problem of the murderous regime in Khartoum. The various states of Sudan do not want to secede...some see it as their only chance to actually survive.

Every single person we've ever met from different states, always, always refer to themselves as "Sudanese." Below is the press release from Enough Project's website. Again, we are sorry for the slapdash nature of this post but it's the fastest way & they've already written it. Many of you admire (for good reason) Dave Eggers & he will be there, too.

We adore singer & musician Emmanual Jal; he wrote the afterword for the book Out of Exile: Narratives From the Abducted and Displaced People of Sudan. Much more on all of these folks & their art in coming weeks. (Emmanuel will be in NYC for a special performance on Thursday, 12 February & we think it's at Faison Firehouse Theatre but the website is a bit confusing between the first page & the schedule. See his website & assorted great videos, here.)

OK, here's the press release below (or go to Enough Project)

***************

Out of Exile: Narratives from the Abducted and Displaced People of Sudan

Featured Contributor:

Dave Eggers, author of the novels A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius and What is the What

Featured Author:

Craig Walzer, editor, Out of Exile

With Special Guests:

Abuk Bak Macham, refugee from Southern Sudan and featured subject in Out of Exile.
Franco Majok, one of Sudan's "lost boys" who recently returned to Sudan to build a school in his native village with donated funds.

Moderated by:

John Prendergast, co-chair of the Enough Project, the Center for American Progress's initiative to end genocide and crimes against humanity

Out of Exile brings the crisis in Darfur and other parts of Sudan out of the policy realm and into the lives of people who never meant to carry the label "refugees." Decades of conflicts and persecution have driven millions from their homes in all parts of Sudan. Many thousands more have been enslaved as human spoils of war. In their own words, the narrators of Out of Exile recount their lives before their displacement, the reasons for their flight, and their hopes of someday returning home.

Out of Exile includes the personal stories of 17 Sudanese people, as told to Craig Walzer, a former legal services adviser to Darfuri and other Sudanese refugees in Cairo. They describe life in the major stations on the "refugee railroads": in the desert camps of Khartoum, the underground communities of Cairo, the humanitarian metropolis of Kakuma refugee camp, and the still-growing internally displaced persons camps in Darfur.

Copies of Out of Exile: Narratives From the Abducted and Displaced People of Sudan will be available for purchase. The editor will be available to sign books following the discussion.

Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Program: 6:30pm to 8:00pm
Admission is free.

Light snacks will be served at 6:00 p.m.

Center for American Progress
1333 H St. NW, 10th Floor
Washington, DC 20005

Nearest Metro: Blue/Orange Line to McPherson Square or Red Line to Metro Center

RSVP for this Event

***************

We hope to see some of GG & her editor's readers (including the poems) there. If so, please do come up & introduce yourself; we tend to be a bit shy at these functions. GG can't make it but will be there in spirit. (Even though she works hard on behalf of humanitarian causes, GG is too distracting & she tends to want things done her way...after all, her occupation is "an opinionated cat.")

bisou, xo GG Central Mgmt.

(book image via Enough Project website)

Five things You Can Do In 15 Minutes

Map date is 2 August 2004. Today is 9 December 2008.

Why not take 15 minutes & visit Enough Project's Take Action? It's simple, painless, & it really does help. Much despair about Zimbabwe, Congo, Somalia, on & on. Yes. But it's possible to do something & that makes all the difference. Many thanks.

GG & her editor

Darfur/Darfur

This photo is not from the exhibit. Unfortunately, we've been unable to reach Brian Steidle (The Devil Came on Horseback) for permission to use one of his photographs before the exhibit leaves Washington, DC. He was only standing less than five feet away from GG's editor several times in early November. "Do not hesitate to ask when you've the chance" would be the lesson here.

However, time creeps on & the travelling Darfur/Darfur exhibit leaves Washington, DC's Civilian Art Projects gallery on Saturday, 6 December 2008. The gallery reopens today (3 December 2008) after a Thanksgiving week break. Here is artist Anne Marchand's blog Painterly Visions with a post earlier this autumn. If you cannot see the exhibit in person, there are links to recent installations for a virtual tour. Check here for updates on the exhibit. The website is presently a bit out-of-date & we're not sure where it goes next. It has been in cities around the States, Canada, & Europe & continues on.

The photograph above is by Susan Burgess-Lent, program director of Darfur Peace & Development Organization (& novelist, too). These Mastaria School of Peace students are greeting Susan (during her May 2008 visit).

Oh yes, & have a good morning....
GG's editor

photograph used with permission of Susan Burgess-Lent

Omer Ihsas, Messenger of Peace

We're behind in posting photos & information about the Tents of Hope event in DC 7-9 November. A good, if exhausting, time was had by all. A highlight was the visit from Omer Ihsas, singer extraordinaire & Darfur Peace & Development Organization board member. Omer's visit was such a lift for everyone; how can anyone be so good-natured? Above, Omer is holding a basket made by a weaver at DPDO's Women's Center in Kassab Camp. These are very popular & there are variations on size/shape; there are also flat round mats that one can use as hot pads. Everything is beautifully crafted & 100% of the proceeds go to the individual artist who created the item. Please contact DPDO for information.

We'll track down how to buy Omer's CDs; many people approached GG's editor to buy them during Omer's stage turn on Sunday, 9 November. Alas, we were equipped to handle only cash that day. You are guaranteed happiness while listening to Omer. What more could you possibly want?! (photograph of Omer by Susan Burgess-Lent/DPDO)

Ciao, bisou
GG Central

What kind of world do you want?

A reminder about the Gathering of Tents for Darfur, 7-9 November.

Above are the youngest students at Darfur Peace & Development's Mastaria School of Peace compound. Improvements to their school, just like all of DPDO's schools, are necessary. The children must keep current with their education. It's the only way Darfuri children can advance to high school (DPDO is building a high school in El-Fasher), then university. Certainly it was not anticipated that Darfur would be in its sixth year of...this. Schools, camps are deteriorating throughout Darfur & in eastern Chad due to the prolonged nature of the crisis.

DPDO will be the beneficiary of approximately 300 tents to be used at schools throughout Darfur. Please help in any way you can. Moral support is always welcome & that doesn't cost a penny. Just some of your time.

Thanks, merci, ciao-miaow.
GG

photo by Susan Burgess-Lent/DPDO/all rights reserved

Hope (+Action) is the operative word...for Darfur, too

These students attend Darfur Peace & Development Organization's Forug School of Peace. Here they give an enthusiastic greeting to DPDO's Susan Burgess-Lent in May (2008). Forug is in the Kutum locality of Darfur & this school is very crowded (in itself, excellent news). These & other students will benefit from the Tents of Hope Gathering in Washington, DC this coming weekend. Please visit the website for information & updates. (Even if you can't be here, you can help spread the word & that is very important.)

There will be a vigil outside the Sudanese Embassy on Friday, 7 November 2008. Details here. [Updates throughout the week & weekend.]

photo by Susan Burgess-Lent/DPDO/all rights reserved

Tents of Hope for Darfur/Tentes de l'espoir pour le Darfour

Reminder: the Tents of Hope gathering in Washington, DC, 7-9 November 2008. Please check here for updates. Darfur Peace & Development Organization will be the beneficiary of the tents & will participate in all activities.

Painting a tent in Philadelphia is the courageous journalist Al-Ghali Yahya Shegifat, also president of the Association of Darfur Journalists. Al-Ghali was released from a notorious Sudanese "ghost house" earlier this month. His "crime" was reporting the truth about Darfur. The Darfur Alert Coalition led an international campaign for his release & he has reunited with his sister, Suad Mansour (a member of the Philadelphia Darfur Alert Coalition).

Lire l'histoire ici en français "Un journaliste détenu au secret."

Despite death threats, Al-Ghali continues to speak out about the genocide in Darfur. He will speak about the plight of Darfuri political prisoners on Saturday, 8 November. Please check for updates.

Thank you so much. Merci beaucoup.

GG's editor

[photo by Susan Burgess-Lent/DPDO]

Give Them Shelter

The Gathering of Tents for Darfur
An Interfaith Event
National Mall
November 7-9, 2008

Hundreds of activist groups, including school children from 48 states, will unite on the National Mall to send a message to the Darfuri people:

We care about ending their five years of suffering.
We are sending help directly to their communities.

Decorated tents used by groups across the U.S. for public education about the Darfur genocide are being shipped for use as classrooms in Darfur.

The event features a vigil at the Sudanese Embassy, interfaith services, workshops for adult & child activists, musical performances, speakers, & a rally.

For complete information & program schedule, visit our blog.

Media inquiries: Susan@DarfurPeace.org (202-393-8150)

The event is co-sponsored by
Tents of Hope
&
Darfur Peace & Development Organization

Supporters: American Jewish World Service, Amnesty International, Change the World Middle School Initiative, China Please, Christian Church, Christian Reformed World Relief, Church World Service, Eco-Cell, Dear Sudan, Enough Project, Genocide Intervention Network, Genocide Watch, Global Grassroots, Global Ministries, Globe for Darfur, Investors Against Genocide, Lutheran World Relief, My Sister's Keeper, Physicians for Human Rights, Save Darfur, STAND, United Church of Christ, United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations, Unitarian Universalist Service Committee.

There will be regular updates & reminders about this event. If you can't be in Washington, DC, you can still participate & are very welcome. We'd love to hear from you.

GG's editor