Art in All of Us on Belgian TV (RTBF) - News of 13th of February 2009

192 countries later, social entrepreneurs complete world tour of art and peace for the worlds children
After 620,000 km of travel, founders of Art in All of Us return to Belgium after reaching more than 18,400 children who have participated in their activities

BRUSSELS, BELGIUM, 30 January, 2009 - Today, Art in All of Us founders and photographers, Anthony Asael (Belgium) and Stephanie Rabemiafara (Madagascar) completed their world tour of art and peace for the worlds children. In the last four years, the duo visited over 300 schools in all 192 UN-recognised countries, promoting creative and cultural exchanges among children, teachers, and administrators to advance and foster tolerance.

From Belgium to North Korea though Brazil and Somalia, AiA worked with children in primary schools through art workshops that explored the themes of identity, self-expression, and tolerance. The participants have created more than 18,000 pieces of artworks and inspired over 160,000 photographs. Asael explains: We wanted to develop in children the curiosity and desire for knowing their close and distant neighbors.

Like many other children, Syrian Noor, 10 years old, expressed her enthusiasm after the workshops: It was best day at school ever. We learned while playing. We could express our opinions freely and discovered the world of creative photography. It is also amazing to know that children from all countries in the world are participating in this project.

The Founders will now work on a book showcasing each of the 192 countries they visited through the best photographs, childrens poems and drawings. Its objective is to amplify the voices of children by showing the world through their eyes and rhymes.

Supported by local NGOs, the Ministry of Education in several countries, and UNICEF, AiA also created sustainable programmes that will continue to stimulate creativity and cultural exchanges among the children who participated in the project. Stephanie Rabemiafara adds, We believe that a better future is possible if children are taught to communicate in a tolerant and peaceful way.

Today, Art in All of Us is supported by 110 volunteers around the world. Its headquarters are located in Brussels, Belgium, and New York. The website is maintained in Sweden, the book is being produced in Chile, exhibits and lectures are being organized in Panama, Belgium and Canada. Regis Verschueren, Secretary of the board, stated, AiA has been successful thanks to our founders and the network of volunteers. We hope to find the funds to employ staff and further develop our educational programs around the world.

About Art in All of Us
Art in All of Us (AiA) is a not for profit organization based in Belgium and in the United States (501(c)(3)) that promotes tolerance through artistic and cultural exchange activities throughout all the 192 UN listed countries. Backed by organization like the UNICEF, SOS Children Villages, Fundacion America and important network of volunteers, AiAs activities have reached more than 18400 children and 300 schools in 192 countries.

Press Contact Anthony Asael: anthonyasael@artinallofus.org
Press Kit : http://www.artinallofus.org/news/press-interviews/presskit.html
Website: www.artinallofus.org
Photographs: http://www.flickr.com/photos/anthonyasael/collections/

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• tolerance
• peace
• unicef
• children
• art
• ngo
• non
• profit
• UN
• cultural
• exchange
• art in all of us
• RTBF
• belgium
• TV
• photographers
• anthony asael
• stephanie
• rabemiafara