In 2010, I had an amazing opportunity to travel to Sierra Leone, West Africa to launch the Creative Arts Initiative. C.A.I. is an annual two-week workshop giving teenage girls in Kabala Town, located in the Northeastern part of the country, the opportunity to express themselves creatively through music, art, writing, dance, photography, and filmmaking. We designed the literacy-based program to foster creative thinking and self-empowerment through the arts, and encourage the girls to use their talents for uplifting their community. It was an incredibly inspiring experience for me and all the participants.
C.A.I. just wrapped it's second year! This year the girls wrote short stories that they had learned from their mothers and grandmothers. A book of poetry and writings will be published to raise awareness for the program and to tell these beautifully cultural stories that, in many cases, had never been written down before now.
If you'd like more information, or to find out how you can help, Contact Me with inquiries.
