[Sdpg] Joe Kennedy South Africa Appeal and Thank you for Book Tour, Buildings Without Borders in Sept 2004

[Wesley Roe and Marjorie Lakin Erickson]

Dear Supporters of my Recent Book Tour,Buildings Without Borders

I have been going a mile a minute since my return from my book tour several 
weeks ago, but wanted to drop you a quick note.  I deeply appreciate the 
support and hospitality that you all showed me and my daughter.  It was a 
successful tour, and exciting to connect with all the wonderful folks down 
south.  Thanks again for all that you have done to support my work.

Warmest regards,

Joe


I have a compelling need, and am looking to you for support. I have been 
asked to participate in the creation of child support center for children 
orphaned by AIDS in South Africa with the Los Angeles-based non-profit 
NextAid (http://www.nextaid.org) and local South African groups. I am doing 
this through the vehicle of my new "social profit" organization Village 
Renaissance (http://www.villagerenaissance.org)

As you may know, within a single generation AIDS has reached pandemic 
proportions globally. There are now over 40 million people living with 
AIDS. Of the 13.2 million children who have been left behind in the wake of 
AIDS, 95% are in Africa alone, and every 14 seconds another child is faced 
with losing his or her parent and taking on adult responsibilities because 
of AIDS.

To begin the massive effort necessary to support these children in the 
coming years, NextAid is committed to building a multi-purpose center for 
Youth With A Vision, a South African non-profit organization, formed mainly 
of teens orphaned by AIDS. Intended to show case green building design, the 
earth-friendly center will serve as a template for many such centers 
throughout Africa. The multi-purpose center will be a place where kids can 
have a safe haven, where resources can be can be concentrated, where aid 
can be efficiently distributed, where environmental education will be 
emphasized, and where youth can reach their individual and collective 
potential.

I have been asked to design this center in collaboration with NextAid, 
Youth With a Vision and other local South Africa partners.  Our next step 
is a strategic design session on the site of the center in Dennilton, near 
Johannesburg.  Rose and my six-year old daughter Taya will be joining me.
During this design process, Rose will offer her perspectives, having been 
raised in an orphanage until age 4.  Taya will have the opportunity to 
engage with children less fortunate than her, and thus learn some powerful 
lessons.

In the last six weeks, we have raised $6,000 towards the $7,500 dollars 
necessary to fully fund this strategic next step in creating this 
center.  I am looking to raise the remaining $1,500 in the next two weeks 
(we leave for South Africa on November 17).  I humbly request your help so 
that this important work can take the next step.

Any amount will help, and is fully tax-deductible.

Checks can be made out to Village Renaissance, and sent to
737 Mill Street, Santa Rosa, CA  95404

If you know of anyone who might be interested in this endeavor, please 
forward this message on to them.  If you want any more detailed 
information, please contact me.

I thank you for your support.

Warmly,

Joe