Support Women's Businesses! Vote for Home in the 'Hood!

Between May 18-May 31, vote for Home in the 'Hood to create employment opportunities for hundreds of Khayelitsha's residents! Watch the video. For voting instructions (takes 2 minutes!), click here!

eKhaya eKasi: First Conference!

On April 23, eKhaya eKasi proudly hosted its first conference, a collaborative venture in conjunction with the Global Campaign for Education. Co-presenters included Women's Business Center, University of the Western Cape Lifelong Learning, and Young Feminists in Action Team. Special thanks to Isaac Aggrey (standing) of Women's Business Center, for organizing this event.

eKhaya eKasi's Funeka Dukwe speaks about Art Aids Art's programs at the center.

Participants pose at the conclusion of this historic event.

eKhaya eKasi: Showing Our Colors!

eKhaya eKasi staff Funeka Dukwe and Nonceba Nonkevu receive training in mosaic tiling from artists Gina Florentino and Carol Scrooby (behind the camera). They are working on signage for the building's front facade. Check out the sneak previews below.... it's been worth the wait!


Our favorite mix: A little bit of bling....


...and plenty of dots!

eKhaya eKasi: Moving Forward!

Art Aids Art is pleased to introduce eKhaya eKasi's first staff members. Co-Managers Funeka Maria Dukwe (left) and Nonceba Nonkevu bring a variety of talents to the job, and have impressed us with their enthusiasm and ability to work collaboratively. Funeka's work in food service will be a great asset as we develop the JAZZ Tea Shop, and Nonceba's experience in handcrafting will be invaluable in the establishment of the art boutique.

Sakhumzi Makaula organizes children's books provided by Art Aids Art's many generous supporters (Thanks, Sakkie). Art Aids Art is building a library of multicultural children's literature to support its Family Literacy Project. In addition, duplicates have been donated to local preschool programs.

What's wrong with this picture? We continued our research and found that many retail stores still carry ZERO black dolls...

...and many school dramatic play areas still offer white dolls and stuffed animals, but no black dolls, despite having 100% black enrollment.

So our collection of black dolls continues. Pictured here, eKhaya eKasi staff and volunteers sing with joy as they receive dolls donated by students at East LA College, Mount San Antonio College and numerous individuals, and those handmade by Dollies Without Borders...

... as well as the Sherman Oaks/Studio City Girl Scouts. Many dolls were donated to local child care programs, while others are being used at eKhaya eKasi to complement our Family Literacy Project.

With so many quality books on hand, the next step was translation. Our 2008 Jungle Justice team translated twenty children's books into Xhosa, allowing for bilingual English/Xhosa reading sessions in our programming.

In addition, bilingual readings were videotaped for future use in both training and direct service.

Special thanks to our 2008 Jungle Justice team of staff, volunteers and students-in-residence. From left, Funeka Dukwe, Nomfundo Yaso, Dorothy Garcia, Siphokazi Rasmeni, Chloe Garcia (Mills College), Yoliswa Thembani, Chris Bostwick (UC Berkeley), Nonceba Nonkevu and Jordan Aiken (UC Berkeley)....

...and those who played a pivotal role in eKhaya eKasi's Grand Opening, including (from right) Holly Sparks, the 2008 Tumi McCallum Women's Advocate, Pamela Davis, the 2008 Jungle Justice Artist-in-Residence, and Nadeem Davids, who tirelessly oversaw the center's construction process from start to finish. Congratulations to them, and to each one of our Art Aids Art family who helped us build the center, brick by brick. Together, we will continue to move forward with our projects, doll by doll and book by book.

We look forward to your comments below!


Photo credit for final triptych: Kamielah Davids

eKhaya eKasi Grand Opening Celebration

On December 1, World AIDS Day, after three years of planning and development, fundraising and designing, organizing and building, eKhaya eKasi Community Center in Khayelitsha, South Africa prepares to open its doors for the grand opening celebration. An hour before the event, young and old are already waiting outside in anticipation.

Inside, the space is ready for the throng....

... outfitted and decorated. Heartfelt thanks to WallCandyArts.com for the vinyl sticker dots.

Guests arrive from around the corner and faraway places. We were overjoyed to have many special guests in attendance: Tina Davis (Norway), director of Bigger Than Barbie; Carin Smuts (Cape Town) from CS Architects, who consulted with our design team; Beverley Price (Johannesburg), founder of one of our participating collectives; Holly Sparks (USA), Art Aids Art's 2008 Tumi McCallum Women's Advocate; and Pamela Davis (USA), the 2008 Jungle Justice Artist-in-Residence. Future collaborators also attend, including an entire contingent from Women's Business Center, with whom we are developing plans for computer classes....

...and, of course, there is a massive turnout by our dear friends at Monkeybiz Bead Project!


The festivities begin with dancing by the women.


There is joy...


...grace...


... and style!


Speaking to the audience of 500, Tom notes the significance of opening the center on World AIDS Day – we are committed to the struggle against this disease and, as Desmond Tutu says, “There must be No Outsiders.” Sakhumzi encounters a problem as he tries to translate this phrase into Xhosa… Upon further investigation, we learn that in Xhosa there is no word for “outsider.”


After receiving permission from the youngest and eldest in attendance, Dorothy leads a blessing for the space, with the children in the center of the circle.


It's time to cut the ceremonial ribbon.


The celebration continues with the children's dancing, both joyful...


...and intense.


Drumming accompaniment on the nearest trash bin is fierce.


Now it's time to lift the shutter and see what's inside!


Children enjoy themselves at the art tables.


Everyone enters the raffle for eKhaya eKasi t-shirts...


... and wait in anticipation for the drawing to take place.


Meanwhile, everyone has an opportunity to visit the container gallery to view "Find Africa in You," the exhibit of artwork donated by our artist support network in the US. It is the first showing of its kind ever in Khayelitsha.


Refreshments are served by eKhaya Caterers out of the newly outfitted J.A.Z.Z Tea Shop.


Time for the drawing... "I won!"


Ten lucky winners proudly collect their shirts.


The event closes with a powerful performance of the national anthem by all in attendance, and then its time to party!

Special thanks to our dynamic photography duo: Pamela Davis and Kamielah Davids.

Photo credits:

Pamela Davis: Photos 1 2 4 7 8 15 16 18 19 21 22 23
Kamielah Davids: Photos 3 5 6 9 10 11 12 13 14 17 20 24

Three weeks of action!

October 26-28

Bead by Bead, Brick by Brick, an exhibit featuring the development of eKhaya eKasi Community Center, is featured at the National Black Child Development Institute's annual conference in Atlanta.

October 30-31

Art Aids Art is invited to present on sustainable development projects at the World Cultural Economic Forum in New Orleans. The spirit of rebirth in New Orleans following Katrina has much in common with that in South African townships.

Pictured here is Glenda English... our connection with her is another example of the difference a single person can make. After buying a beaded peace magnet from us, she contacted the Forum and coordinated our participation!

November 2

One hundred supporters join us in Altadena to celebrate the upcoming launch of eKhaya eKasi Community Center. Pictured here, Shannon Weprin initiated a project with her Girl Scout to handmake 75 black dolls for our upcoming trip, along with donations of another 65 infant dolls and loads of children's books.

Special thanks to performers at the event: The Fattback Bluesman, The Blunt Family African Dance & Drum, and Max Wrightson Trio featuring Tootie Heath. Pictured here: Jelani Blunt, Tootie Heath, Michael McTaggart and Yusef Olaitan. Photos: Steve Lewis.

November 11

We arrive in South Africa to news that Mama Africa -- the great South African vocalist Miriam Makeba -- has died. Makeba's signature sound, which including the clicks of the Xhosa language, was known around the world, along with her passionate activism during the anti-Apartheid struggle, during which she was forced to live in exile. The nation mourns.

November 14-17
Art Aids Art participates in the Women's Rights in Development World Conference in Cape Town, pictured here with fellow participants advocating for more inclusion of healing and trauma work in the event's proceedings.

Click on any of the above pictures to enlarge

eKhaya eKasi: Exterior Complete!

Standing bright and tall, a view of the container and the fenced area that will serve as the rooftop garden.

A view from the Edible Roof.



Project Director Nadeem Davids in the entry to the container, designed to accommodate the artspace and other microbusinesses.



With the exterior complete, the state-of-the-art industrial kitchen is the final piece waiting to be completed. Stay tuned for photos from the Grand Opening party scheduled for December 1, World AIDS Day, 2008!