Journey of the Darfur Tents of Hope, part 2

DPDO's Susan Burgess-Lent & Tents of Hope shipping update. The difficulties, tangles, time-line, & Susan's photos. You won't complain about packing for a trip again, ever. Look how pretty everything looks in the first photo (from left: Amal, Katie, Mary Ellen, & GG's editor lurking pinkishly inside the tent); then look at the reality at the shipping facility in NJ.

Reading about this massive undertaking & the (well-meaning but not helpful ) ways people donate can enlighten us all about future endeavours. [See December's post on the progress of the tents.]

Current ETA for tent delivery to Libya is 6 February 2009. Delivery to Darfur--we're hoping for late February/early March. With last week's bombings, we'd prefer not to think about it. One day at a time.

A good Monday to all. We'll be at AFI in the a.m. to try for free tickets to watch the Inauguration from the grand Deco theatre.Wish us luck.

ciao,
GG's editor

photographs courtesy of Susan Burgess-Lent/DPDO
(top) DPDO tent staff at Tents of Hope, Washington, DC; (bottom) preparing to pack shipping container, Newark

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

Stand with those "huddled around radios in the forgotten corners of the world..."

Please join us & stand on behalf of "those who are huddled around radios in the forgotten corners of the world..." [President-elect Barack Obama's victory speech, 4 November 2008, Grant Park, Chicago, IL]

Go here for details & a closer look at the flyer. (You don't have to sign up, just show up.)

Thank you.

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

In DC, in Darfur, Tents of Hope

Our friend Susan of Darfur Peace & Development Organization (DPDO) visited some of DPDO's schools on her trip to Darfur this past May (2008). It never ceases to amaze how resilient these kids are, going to school under such appalling circumstances. These little folks are students at DPDO's Mastaria School of Peace in North Darfur.

DPDO is partnering with Tents of Hope for a three-day event for Darfur on the National Mall (& a few other venues), November 7-9 in Washington, DC. This is another reminder that if you are in town, we'd love to meet you. Go here for an updated list of activities. The painted tents, by groups all over the United States, will be shipped to Darfur to serve as schoolrooms until permanent buildings can be constructed (or in some cases, reconstructed). If you can't come, you can still visit the links & participate in some ways. Updates through next weekend.

There will be a vigil outside the Sudanese Embassy on Friday, 7 November 2008. Details soon.

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

Remember September's Darfur Heroes

A reminder to read Suliman Giddo's inspiring story on the Save Darfur web site. He is a good & wise person & GG's editor is proud to call him a friend. Suliman was also given an award recently from Strayer University in Washington. Strayer is contributing 50 computers to DPDO in Sudan; it will be the first computer center in Darfur.

Suliman is President & Co-Founder of Darfur Peace & Development Organization. DPDO is partnering with Tents of Hope for an event on the National Mall, the weekend after the election. Please visit the links, even if you can't be in DC. Tents of Hope isn't only a humanitarian project, but serves an artistic purpose, as well. What more could one possibly want?

More news as the event approaches & the tents make their way to Washington.

Ciao- meow/GG Central Mgmt.

Tents of Hope is coming to Washington, DC

Tents of Hope is coming to Washington, DC from 7-9 November!

Here are some links about the event that are available so far. This program is a mission of the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC), headquartered in Cambridge, MA. The entire weekend is part of the Save Darfur Coalition-sponsored student & adult activist training & conference weekend. This link is a great page of "who's participating?"

If you & your family or group of friends would like to purchase a tent, it's not too late. Please click here for the details.

GG is pleased to announce that Darfur Peace & Development Organization will be receiving some tents (the number is not final yet). There will be many future announcements, but please save the date. There will be the opportunity to make art (tent painting)...stay tuned.