Rebecca Neuenswander's HALO for Children
Good Works
Kampala, Uganda at Voice of Hope Orphanage.
Children Helping Children Through Art
Rebecca Neuenswander founded the HALO Foundation after traveling to Third World countries over four years ago and witnessing the plight of orphaned children firsthand. The faces of these children and the circumstances of poor orphanages proved impossible to forget. She created HALO, Helping Art Liberate Orphans, as a practical means of addressing a real-life issue that goes beyond tugging guilty heartstrings with desperate images. HALO serves orphanages in Mexico, Nicaragua, India, Cambodia, Uganda, and Kenya.
July 14, Saturday, 6:30 PM
HALO ArtReach Auction
Based on the theme "Sharing art from around the world," the auction will include artwork collected by HALO, Helping Art Liberate Orphans, from the different orphanages that they support: Mexico, Cambodia, India, Vietnam, Africa and Nicaragua. Also, artwork by Kansas City-based artists will be included. The event includes music by the Barclay Martin Ensemble, Flamenco dancing by Manos Rojas, food, and drinks.
National World War One Museum
Liberty Memorial
100 West 26th Street
816.472.HALO
www.haloworldwide.org/africaindia.htm
www.nww1.org
Neuenswander explains in more detail how HALO originated and how American youth have been able to help children in other countries through art.
PRESENT: How did HALO originate?
Neuenswander: When I returned to the U.S., couldn’t ignore the images in my head. I was working with American children daily and as part of their curriculum I would teach them about the orphans I had worked with. They would learn about another culture and what a day in the life of an orphan would be like. I was amazed more and more each day as my students grew increasingly interested in the lives of children less fortunate than them. It was their idea to host a fundraiser for the orphans. They raised nearly $5,000 for orphans in Mexico. The children were so proud of themselves and the parents were amazed. Children helping children. This is how HALO was born.
PRESENT: What is the goal of HALO?
Neuenswander: It is our goal to raise awareness and involvement in American children while enhancing the lives of orphans worldwide. Our program puts American children in the shoes of orphans by bringing their stories to life. Fundraisers hosted by American children provide food, water, shelter, clothing, education, and art therapy for the orphans. Selections of the orphans’ artwork are brought back to the U.S. to be auctioned, and proceeds go toward supporting the orphanages.
We will provide our children with the tools to make a difference by teaching compassion, service, and leadership. It is my vision for orphans around the world to be given a chance at a future; a life knowing where their next meal will come from.
Related Articles:
Read Past Articles · the Archives
Fun Thumbs
