Want to learn how to draw the most perfect pumpkin, stunning squash, or gorgeous gourd?
Come join the Amani Children’s Home and our collaboration with The Wild Wonder Foundation and Naturalist Artist Educator John Muir Laws!
On Saturday, November 11th from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM PST (Pacific Standard Time), John Muir Laws, aka Jack, will host a live online class where we will learn how to draw and paint all kinds of gourds. No prior experience is required! All ages are welcome. Click on this link to sign up, or type https://www.wildwonder.org/amani into your URL to access the Wild Wonder website.
Participating in this fundraiser will help support the children of Amani who are in a constant battle with Tanzania’s food insecurity crisis. It is estimated that 31% of the Tanzania population suffers from undernutrition, with more than half experiencing moderate or severe food insecurity (USAID, 2023). By drawing gourds, a delicious vegetable native to the African continent, you can help provide food for children in need. We are excited to share that all donations of $100 or more made before 11/26/23 will be matched by an anonymous donor!
Our past work with the Wild Wonder Foundation has supported the children of Amani exploring their love for nature through art and science. Thanks to the support of many generous donors, Wild Wonder was able to raise funds to purchase nature journaling supplies for 50 children and their teachers in 2022. This included a nature journaling kit, blank sketchbook, watercolor pencils, a water brush, drawing pencils, a goniometer, a pencil sharpener, pencil case, a wrist cuff (for painting in the field), and their own bag to carry their supplies.
In February of 2023, Jack, the host of this upcoming fundraiser, delivered the kits among a group of nature journalists. They taught children and teachers about nature journaling, and the group took a field trip to a local national park to embark on their nature journaling adventures.
Become a scientific artist with us through the seemingly simple gourd. Your contributions will help our continued efforts to inspire these children to be caretakers of their natural resources. These skills are especially vital for the children of Amani, because selling handmade art is a viable method to earn income in Tanzania, and can help children become self-sufficient in their futures.
The Amani Children’s Home gives a huge thank you to Jack and The Wild Wonder Foundation for their continuous support. To learn more about their work, access to their websites are provided above, or can be accessed via URL in the links below:
https://johnmuirlaws.com/
https://www.wildwonder.org/
Blog post by Sarah Karkout
