Connection to Guinea
disbursement of funds raised


January, 05
As Yael and Lara prepare to journey back to Conakry for their longest stay yet, they have managed to already put some of the proceeds from the fundraiser described below to good use. They were able to produce a Live recording for Groupe de Sorel available now. These artist will reimburse the fund upon sale of their CDs. Also we have funded a re-print of Wamali Percussione de Guinee t-shirts, limited edition orange! These artists will also reimburse the fund upon sale of their t-shirts. We were able to fulfill a special request from our good friend, a tailor, for a digital camera to photograph and promote his work. We have also been able to develop a backlog of photos from two trips to be distributed to friends in Conakry and used for promotional/fundraising purposes. Please take a moment to follow the links thoughout this site. You can help an artist by purchasing their merchandise, including Les Etoiles de Boulbinet cassette imports and also our friend Ballaket Cissoko's (from Groupe de Sorel) gorgeous djembe drum! Upon our return we will share more distribution details.



December, 04
We had a very successful Guinea Artiste Fundraiser the day after Thanksgiving! This was our first time staging such and event and we were so thrilled by the outcome - we raised over $700 for our friends and artists in Guinea!

We want to send a BIG BIG THANK YOU (belle belle inouwali) to all those involved in our fundraiser for Guinee artists & friends last Friday! We raised about $800, details of dispursement intentions to come. So many folks helped and we want to take a moment to acknowledge them, please excuse us if we have overlooked anyone!

SPECIAL THANKS:

THE GUINEE HENS -
we could not have done this without these specials ladies! They not only donated their time and talents to arrange two pieces of music & dance but also helped to sell tickets, distribute flyers, work the door, manifest baked goods, manage market items, transform the space with their energy and creativity and kep the drum circle cookin'. he Guinee Hens performers for this show were: BONNIE, DEB, JOJO, HADJA, ROBIN, JULIANN, NANCY, KAMI, MARIA and special guest from Roanoke, Lara's niece, DANIELLE!

WEST MILFORD PRESBYTERIAN CHRUCH - For use of their space for rehearsal and the show
CAT LOMBARDI -
who sat in with us on "Jigsaw" and "Doorways" sharing her gorgeous middle eastern percussion stylings
NADINE FIUME/LATIN PERCUSSION -
who dontated 10 "Santana Chicquitas" to sell in support of the fundraiser
JAMIE ROSS - Fantastic sound!
CINDY FORREST - Great Press!
DEB MANFREDONIO - Key Producer!
KATHY HENKEL - Key Producer!
JEN STARR - You are an Angel!


March-May, 04
By the end of March we raised close to $500 for Lara to take with her on her third venture to Conakry, Guinea - this time solo for 5 weeks. Below is a list of some of the ways in which the money was distributed between Casablanca, Morocco and Conakry:

- extra baggage to transport supplies/medicine/shoes/clothes
- eye medication for a gentleman in Casablanca
- medical/household assistance for family in Conakry whose Papa was unable to work/walk due to leg injury
- hospital visit/meds for several friends with malaria and stomach ailments
- medical assistance for friend with knee injury
- medical assistance for friend recovering from stomach operation
- medical/hospital/household assistance for family whose Papa recovering from lung surgery -
sadly, he passed away in May.
- assistance with transport for a friend who had to travel a great distance for some personal business
- assistance with radio announcement of a friends mother's passage, and one of 3 traditional sacrifices for her.
- school assistance for several university and primary students.
- assistance for a local kiosk proprietor who was forced to close & relocate due to road construction
- assistance for 2 families of artists who have passed away -
Bengaly Bangoura (Les Ballets Africains) and Mohamed (Wamali Percussione de Guinee)
- assistance with English lessons for several friends
- household assistance for a friend with new baby and absent father
- internet assistance for a community of friends
- assistance with instruments for Groupe de Sorel who could not afford their own and had to borrow from other area artists for performances and repition.


February, 04
Dear Friends & Supporters,

We thank those who responded to our January fundraising call! With your assistance we were able to send donations with our trusted couriers for 3 families of artists who have passed away - Gbanworo Keita (Les Ballets Africains), Bengaly Bangoura (Les Ballets Africains) and Mohamed (Wamali Percussione de Guinee). In addition we were able to send a donation for 6 months of schooling for a friend's child who lives in Banjul, Gambia. Our couriers will also be doing some research and laying some groundwork for medical assistance.



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