This is Diana, she is 27 years old and a single mother of 4 children
(Given 9 years, Chamela 7 years, Marly 5 years and Adriana 6 months).
I met Diana at the Art Center in Katutura/ Windhoek ( Namibia )
She was interested in my project and the NALA exhibition and asked me many questions.
She used to work as a security guard at the Art Center, one of the most boring jobs in the world.
One day she asked me if I would know about another job for her, but since I am just a guest here my answer was negative.
She wanted to really work, do something productive and not just sit around and stare into space.
We started talking and she told me that the exploiting security company she worked for paid its employees only after 2 or 3 months and less than it was agreed on. Most people here are glad to have a job at all, even if it only pays 75 Euros per month and they have to work all day without breaks…. (if you want to learn the whole story, I can send it to you through email)
I gave thought to the whole story and got her in touch with a friend who was looking for a cleaner.
But he wanted to pay her only about 70 NAM$ per day (about 5.50 €). So I kept looking and got an idea…
NALA will help and support Diana and I came up with a new job for her. I sold some of my paintings and from the returns I will buy her a sewing machine. This way Diana can sew more NALA products on her own. The returns from these products will benefit and support this project. Therefore I need many buyers for my NALA products!
I visited Diana at her mother’s place in Okahandja Park, one of the poorest parts of Katutura/Windhoek. It’s an informal settlement and the house was built with corrugated metal sheets and plastic canvas. There is no electricity or water in the house. The bathroom (outside far from the house) they have to share with several people. Her mother, who is supposed to watch the children while Diana is at work, is usually drunk and even ate up all the food that I had recently bought for Diana and her children.
Diana would like to move out there and build up a peaceful home for herself and her children.
If you would like to support “Project Diana”… this is your chance:
As soon as the support from you for this project reaches 100 Euro, I will get the amount from my account and buy the sewing machine for “Project Diana”.
Additionally 350 Euro are needed to support Diana to move into her own house and give her children the chance to live in a peaceful environment.
Here you can see how much support the project has gotten so far and when the project has been realized (every dot marks 10 Euro).
If you, as a supporter, would like your name to be published on the website I will do so of course. You can also choose what you want to support … the purchase of the sewing machine or a new home for Diana.
Sewing machine
Zero € O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O 200 € financed :-)
Donator:
Nikolai Sowa, Wellington / New Zealand 70 €
André Pilz 130 €
Thank You very much.
......................................................................................................................................................
Building Materials for a new Shack ( House )
Zero € O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O 350 € financed :-)
Donators:
Alexandra and Steve Ulrich, Jena / Germany 100.00 €
Micha Messermann, Mainz / Germany 50.00 €
Elfie and Johannes Defér, Freital / Germany 50.00 €
Ines Schollenbruch, Leipzig / Germany 100 €
anonym Donator, Thuringia / Germany 50.00 €
Madlen Schiefer for all the Organisation
Marek for the entrance door,
Thank You very much
Anyway … today (17th of August) Diana came to the guest house where I am staying right now and together we worked on the first NALA t-shirts and she also came up with new ideas for more NALA products.
Just take a look at what she had made … hand-made! She is very motivated and has the energy to realize her ideas … she just need a little help to get started!
June 2014, Diana lives in peace in her new home together with her 4 kids. She worked on a daily basis job.
Thank you to all donators.
NALA's latest dress from Loja, Ecuador.
The suit was hand sewn by Paulina Salinas, visual artist from Loja, Ecuador.
Hello friends,
Today I would like to introduce you to NALA's newest costume.
The typical attire of Saraguro women consists of a round white hat with black dots, a set of earrings; 12 color necklaces; wool overflow; silver pipe and a shirt. In addition a black skirt and sandals or espadrilles.
NALA is very happy about this masterpiece.
Thank you very much, Paulina.
El último vestido de NALA de Loja, Ecuador
El traje fue cosido a mano por Paulina Salinas, artista visual de Loja, Ecuador.
Hola amigos,
Hoy me gustaría presentarles el nuevo disfraz de NALA.
La vestimenta típica de la mujer saraguro, compone de sombrero redondo color blanco, con pintas negras, juego de aretes; collares con 12 colores; reboso de lana; tupo de plata; camisa; faja; anaco; pollera; y, las sandalias o alpargatas.
NALA está muy contenta con esta obra maestra.
Muchas gracias, Paulina.
NALA Artwork by Carlos Romero ( Colombia )
Muchas gracias por tu apoyo.
... tuya NALA.
NALA Artwork by Giovany Novoa ( Ecuador )
Muchas gracias por tu apoyo.
... tuya NALA.
This new NALA Artwork was painted by Wilfrido Lusitande Piaguaje from San Pablo near Shushufindi at the Amazonas in Equador. Wilfrido used more then 180 hours to paint this
amazing artwork with NALA.
Can you see the toucan that is in the painting?
Nala wanted a toucan so badly that she unfortunately didn't see it while she was wandering around in the forest. Although she saw no animals, she felt an inner peace and marveled at every tree and leaf she saw. It was so incredibly interesting and unique to explore this small part of the Amazon. The many colorful butterflies sat on NALA's hand and told her stories about the sloth, the pink dolphins and the bee elf, the smallest bird in the world.
I'll tell you more about the rainforest later.
Stay curious
See you soon
Your NALA
Sigue el texto para leerlo en español Artworks from Ecuador
Folge diesem link um den Text auf deutsch zu lesen. Kunstwerke aus Ecuador
Here you can see more photos from the new NALA art exhibition in Quito, Ecuador.
follow this link: NALA in Quito
Aquí puedes ver más fotos de la nueva exhibición de arte de NALA en Quito, Ecuador.
siga este enlace: NALA en Quito
NALA ART Booklet ready for Download
The NALA ART Booklet is now available as PDF File for download. Selected Artists show amazing NALA Artworks from southern and east Africa.
El folleto NALA ART ahora está disponible como archivo PDF para descargar. Los artistas seleccionados muestran increíbles obras de arte de NALA del sur y este de África.
I am currently in Kassel, Germany
Email: thelittlenala@gmail.com
Cycled kilometer total for the NALA Project: 17.425 km
Cycled Countries: South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe,
Zambia, Malawi, Tanzania, Zanzibar, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Cuba, Ecuador.
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