A surprise next door

Our premise when we started HumanKind Media was that the more people heard stories about regular people taking on some of the big-ticket suffering in the world, the more possibilities we as humans would envision for ending that suffering. Since we started, we've learned that there are gazillions of those people and stories, and while we enjoy relaying them to you, we're really having fun finding them. Not surprisingly, you don't have to go far before you trip over a story about someone who's decided to create the change they want to see in the world. Meet my neighbor, Ellen.

When I was coming home from a bike ride last week, I saw Ellen, a Norwegian transplant of many decades, whom I hadn't seen in many months. After losing her beloved husband Bill last year she made a longer-than-normal pilgrimage back to Norway and had recently returned. We chatted a little, I told her about HumanKind Media, and we agreed to go for a bike ride the next morning. First, I should mention that Ellen is an artist. (Once, several years ago, I got enthusiastic about putting up new mailboxes at our fence near the entrance to our lane. Without mentioning how appalled she was at my idea to put up something very ugly, Ellen suggested we hand-paint all the boxes. Needless to say, we have the most beautiful mailboxes ever.)

The next morning, before I could even get on my bike, Ellen was in my driveway, exuberant and animated, talking about my web site and about her interest in Africa. It took me a while to catch up, but the reason Ellen was so excited about our site was that at the same time we had begun our media venture about healing the world, she had begun her own journey. While in Norway, Ellen had seen a documentary on Monkeybiz, a non-profit collective of over 500 women in Capetown who use their traditional African beadcraft, handed down through generations, to support themselves and their families, educate their children, and keep them healthy.

As an artist, Ellen was captivated by the bead dolls the women made, and after a search in Norway, found a Monkeybiz doll that called to her: "A little girl doll that looks like me as a child, with the little blond pigtails and all." Ellen felt drawn to Africa, and began imagining the possibility of contributing help by using her art. "I like all these organizations teaching, helping people help themselves. Being an artist, good with my hands, maybe I can go and help start something like [Monkeybiz]," she said. Over the summer, she began this painting, inspired by a photo she had taken on a visit to Africa many years before. Isn't it beautiful?

Back in the U.S., Ellen learned about Art Aids Art, a U.S. non-profit devoted to educating the public about South African culture and the HIV/AIDS crisis by purchasing womens' art at Fair Trade prices and exhibiting it in the US through private and community gatherings. Art Aids Art has an impressive list of projects they've funded for the women of South Africa. In one of those fabulous moments of synchronicity, Ellen contacted Art Aids Art just as they were looking for artists to donate artwork for a fund-raiser for their opening of the new community center they had built, eKhaya eKazi . Ellen immediately offered her beautiful painting. It will hang in the center during the opening and then move to a gallery for sale, the proceeds of which will also go to the Monkeybiz women. The dolls are making a splash around the world and are featured in the documentary Bigger than Barbie (see a preview here.) You can host your own fund-raiser for Art Aids Art and Monkeybiz (if you're still shopping for a special HumanKind Challenge #2 project).

When I was talking to Ellen, she pointed out that Africa had called to her, but "We don't have to be going abroad" to help. She talked about how she liked the idea that she could do something she loved and still help others. And you can, too. If you're out there tripping over men and women like Ellen, let us hear about them. And if you are working on some ideas for HumanKind Challenge #2, Help a Woman, using your interests, talents, and skills, then share your ideas with others. No help is too small, no idea insignificant. It all counts towards more possibilities. Thanks, Ellen, for your inspiration.

Comments

[Piper]

how wonderful!
i know something like this is in my future. it is completely my dream to combine art with social causes. well, i feel blessed because in some ways i have already begun living that dream.

i heart HumanKindMedia, art, and all the world.

[Tom Harding]

Dear HumanKind,
Thank you for sharing Ellen's story and her connection to our work in South Africa. Your site is a wonderful resource for those seeking to learn more about opportunities to make a difference. Anyone else interested in contributing as Ellen did can visit http://web.mac.com/artaidsart/Site_4/
for more information.

We are all African,
Tom Harding, co-founder of Art Aids Art