Accomplishments

The accomplishments to this date are healthy. Originally we traveled to Kenya and visited existing NGO (Non-Government Organizations), orphanages, and schools. At these locations we interviewed the responsible parties and assessed what crucial needs were as yet unmet. From these needs we envisioned a solution: sustainable orphanages existing on permaculture farms. By educating the orphaned children in permaculture farming, they in turn would be able to educate and train the adults in the community.

We realized that our first priority, in order to accomplish any of our dreams, would be to find funding. With this in mind, we took many photographs at the orphanages as well as while on safaris. In addition, artifacts that typified native craftsmanship were purchased. Both were done in anticipation of presentations that would be given to various organizations and schools upon returning to the U.S.

Originally, all funding came from Marlene Blossom’s personal accounts. Marlene partnered with Flying in Cyber Space, a designated 501C3, in order to begin moving forward with fundraising. She then gathered volunteers comprised of both adults and students and created teams to do fundraising. Students developed the Africa Unveiled Youth Group. The first fundraiser was a motorcycle cross-country ride from Portland, Oregon to Portland, Maine. The youth group accomplished this through designing flyers and per-mile donation sheets for riders. They solicited the local community and succeeded in raising $1,390.00. This was followed by several car washes, which raised an additional $350.00. A rummage sale at the local school brought in $1,243.00. During this time the students and Flying in Cyber Space were collecting computers to send to existing NGO’s and Kenyan schools that allow orphaned children to attend. A camcorder was purchased for Africa Unveiled to create a VHS film and pictures live from Africa. Tasha Tarver, at age 15, designed the Power-Point presentation, which Tasha and Marlene presented three times at Cascade Middle School to inspire youth to join the Africa Unveiled Team. In addition, Re Carlson at age 17 designed the Website www.africaunveiled.org. With these three medians of communication, we are able to meet the needs of any audience we encounter.

Community involvement came into view at this point and ten acres of land in Voumba, Zimbabwe, which was donated to Africa Unveiled by owners Wilson Mhasho (Zimbabwe), and Heidi & Dan Dittrich (Leavenworth, WA). The land will be used for the New Millennium Children’s Center. At this time, Dan and Heidi are working with this land but no further efforts to work with Africa Unveiled has been tried due to the Corruption of the Mugabi administration in charge of the country…

Bringing LW4 to the Ministry of Health

Africa Unveiled sought information on LW4, an anti-retroviral that relieves systems of HIV, hepatitis C, malaria, and other various viruses. It is simply an immune booster that could possibly be affordable for all of Africa and other third-world countries. Marlene learned about this drug while attending a conference in Houston, Texas. She decided to initiate a relationship with Latwest Pharmaceutical in Baybush, Ireland.

Marlene went to Ministry of Health in Nairobi, Kenya, where she re-introduced LW4 to Dr. Nukini, chief executor of the poison control department and Mr. Koske, the chief pharmacist in the Ministry. I brought in a Ugandan Latest representative who completed the applications for research at KEMRI, Kenya Medical Research Institute and last heard that the Ministry of Health in Kenya has now approved LW4 for research. Working with David Alli, a representative for Latwest, Patrick Pendergast and Nancy Nnankya Ph.D. the individuals who originally discovered and researched LW4.

Bringing Computers to Kimori & Women’s Oaisis

During this visit we developed relationships with numerous other NGO’s and Africa University. We collected computers (8 total) which have been shipped and were received in Kenya. Their destination points are two NGO’s: the Namunyak Maasai Welfare (registration number 3811) and the Oasis Woman’s Self-Help Group (registration number 14430). Namunyak Maasai Welfare Fellowship is using five computers in the Kimori School, which enrolls nearby orphaned children in their school. We fund ten children from Kimori at this time. Oasis Woman’s Self Help Group has received three computers to set up an Internet Cafe that will be utilized by the local community. The funds raised through this enterprise will be used to feed local street children.

Women’s Oasis Beehive Project

Another accomplishment reached by Africa Unveiled is the Beehive Project. Initially, the Oasis Woman’s Self Help Group was referred to Marlene by Walter Mongfare, a famous comedian in Africa. They contacted us for help in starting a beehive and chicken-rearing farm. Their plan was that the proceeds of this endeavor be used to feed street children in their community, outside of Nairobi in the district of Kiambu. Africa Unveiled donated 17 beehives and tuition for 2 women to receive bee-keeping training. At this time both women have completed the course and one hive is filled and producing honey at a cost of $1,500. The chicken farm is scheduled to open soon.

Building the Mongwelli Home
Using funds raised from the May 2005 fundraiser titled, African Cuisine: 48 Hours of Hunger and working with Rescue Da Da, a street girls reabilitation center in Mutare, Nairobi, Kenya, we sent $6,000 raised by students in Cascade School District and have begun building a home for the Mongwelli famliy, an aunt of 48 years raising her deceased sisters’ children leaving her with 14 total.

Working With Village Volunteers
Another partner we work with is Village Volunteers. Founder Shana Green the former executive director of Urgent Africa has taken on two of the Africa unveiled Projects and sent volunteers to help in Kenya. Nyumbani, an Orphanage of 100 children affected by HIV Founder Angelo D’agostino who has worked diligently to start a eco- village for 750 children and 250 adults affected by HIV. In addition, Shana Greene has sent volunteers to Massai Welfare to help the village and the children that Africa Unveiled supports. She has set up a website for them about there village that links up to her website. [www.villagevolunteers.org]

We have also provided a resource for Urgent Africa, with legal advice via Bill Baldwin, Wenatchee, Washington. He revised Urgent Africa’s volunteer waiver forms, advised former Executive Director Shana Green on international medicine and medical transport, and generously offered his skills with the possible merge of Urgent Africa and Africa Unveiled. In addition he has offered Ms. Green future consultations.

Another resource we have brought to Urgent Africa is the expertise of Christine Von Ditter, MBA, a graduate of the University of Washington with a degree in International studies and a minor and Certificate in Nonprofit Management. Her various consultations have provided Africa Unveiled with a Board of Trustees Handbook, as well as a Guidebook for successful fundraising.

What does the future hold for Africa Unveiled?

I. Fundraising:

• A software drive for the computers that have already arrived in Kenya

• Recycling projects (create a recycling center in Leavenworth where there is currently nil recycling) which will provide continuous income

• Africa Unveiled and Rescue Dada are jointly funding sixteen children from Jane’s family. Funds are being used for food, shelter and education. Future plans include the construction of a home and grain farm.

• An active youth group filled with ideas

• A senior student at Cascade H.S. who is taking on Africa Unveiled as her Senior Project with a live musical concert, Jessica West

• A senior student auction event, Sara Smart

• Woodstick Music Production, Gator Chamberlain

• Senior student Auction, Vickie Chavez

• African Cuisine 48 Hours of Hunger. 60-90 Students from the Leavenworth School district will be participating in this one. (Hopefully this will be a yearly event)

• Car Washes using biodegradable soaps

II. Resources

• Planet Organic - permaculture vocational training center for sustainability. Trains participants in advanced permaculture design, bioregional sustainability, organic production systems, and community development skills. Located in Golden Bay, New Zealand - contact Kenny Dunn,Robina Mc Curdy and Mike Fenngold

• Fambidzanai - permaculture center in Zimbabwe - contact Bertha Msora, Director

• Africa University - HIV research center and possible LW4 research participants - contact -Professor Peter Fasan, Dean of Health Sciences

• Safire - Southern alliance for indigenous resources. Located in Mutare, Zimbabwe - contacts Humphrey T. Nyoka, regional project officer and Chris Masara, regional officer

• Nyumbani - hospice for HIV positive orphans in Kenya - contact Angelo D’Agostino, SJ, MD, founder & medical director

• Rescue Dada - rehabilitation center for young street girls. Provide housing, education, stability, and occupation/vocational training. Contact Ann Khagli

• Youth Recovery Plan - boys/youth rehabilitation center. Provide housing, education, stability, and occupation/vocational training. Contact – John

• Nyumbani is a Home for children affected by HIV. Founder Angelo D’ Agostino has been working with persistence to create Nyumbani as a model for every orphanage through out world… We are currently in communications with Angelo D’Agostino, networking with other Non-Profits here in the states to make his Eco-Village of 750 children and 250 adults affected by HIV become a reality. We have referred Village Volunteers, Shana Greene, Nextaids, Lauren Segal and Planet Organics, Robina McCurdy together with Mike Fenngold to help in this Endeavor.

• Oasis Women’s Self Help Group - their main objectives of street people care are:

• Rehabilitate street children and HIV/AIDS orphans.

• Create feeding programs for street children.

• Control of use of drugs by street children through counseling. Located in Uthiru, Kenya. Contact - Nancy Nduati

• National Bee Keeping Station - sponsored by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development of Kenya - development of bee keeping in Kenya and surrounding countries using new technology and information in agriculture. Provides training, production of equipment and bee management and investigation. Located in Nairobi, Kenya. Contact - Robin M. Mbae, officer-in-charge

• Latwest Pharmaceutical - for profit company who posses the patent on LW4 and currently is researching and testing it in Zambia. located in Baybush, Straffan Co., Kildare, Ireland contact Patrick Pendergast and Nancy Nnankya Ph.D.

• Namunyak Maasai Welfare Fellowship - NGO located in Narok, Kenya Emmanuel Tasur, Board of Directors *******

• Flying in Cyber Space - 501C3 who has partnered with Africa Unveiled since April 2002 located in Seattle, WA contact - Allen Dyer

• Kenyan Ministry of Health - resource for approval of LW4 contact is Mr. Koske, Chief Pharmacist and Dr. Nukuini, Chief Executor of Poison Control/Pharmacy

• Afrisouth Construction/Contractor Company - possible builders for orphanage site on donated land in Mutare, Zimbabwe - located in Mutare, Zimbabwe - contact Wilson Mhasho, owner

• Land - 10 acres of land in Voumba, Zimbabwe donated by Heidi and Dan Dittrich and Wilson Mhasho

• Cordell Neher and Company Accounting - maintaining the accounting for Africa Unveiled and setting up it’s 501C3 status. Contact - Michelle Jennings, Wenatchee, WA

• Bill Baldwin - attorney at Jeffers, Danielson, Sonn and Aylward who is providing legal advice and direction for Africa Unveiled. Wenatchee, WA

• Cascade School District Africa Unveiled Youth Group - whose mission is to rock the world and to shape our future by educating, healing, and creating leadership opportunities for people of the world, To open doors into new ways of being with our fellow humans and new ways of living with and giving to our neighbors of the world. Leavenworth, WA

• Dr. Heidi Riggenbach Dittrich - Grant Writer, Education Specialist. She and her husband Dan design and operate short cross-cultural orientation sessions for volunteers going to Mutare, Zimbabwe.Leavenworth, WA

• Marlene Blossom - Founder of Africa Unveiled and President

• Her vision and foresight began over two years ago and has continued to evolve and develop with three on-sight visits to Kenya and Zimbabwe. Personal commitment to global humanitarian needs has driven her agenda, sculpted the accomplishments and future visions of Africa Unveiled.

• Christine Von Ditter - MBA, a graduate of the University of Washington with a degree in International studies and a minor and Certificate in Nonprofit Management.

• Shannon Armstrong - has been active in non-profit groups for 20+ years and is especially interested in Africa Unveiled having lived in the Middle East for 18 years. Her interests are accentuated by her degrees in education (reading K-12, education K-12, and ESL (K-16). Belief in the possibility of a better life for the survivors of the third world has inspired her to become and “answer” to the situations rather than a “reader” of the doom. In conclusion, Africa Unveiled’s vision is to develop a partnership with an organization who shares their goals; combining resources, developing fund raising strategies, and networking. The end result would resemble a trade of talent, contacts, and history that would enable us to reach our objectives more powerfully. We are not trying to complicate any group’s current work, but to create an energy that will open new doorways and expanding our organizations.