879 Simply Irresistible

Today is Giving Tuesday, the Tuesday after Thanksgiving when we are encouraged to donate to our favorite charities, where often our donations will be matched by a generous donor.  ANERA is one of my very favorite organizations and if you follow my blog, you know that I have been supporting them for a long time.  My "near and dear and close to my heart" project, The Innocents Project, features paintings of Syrian and Palestinian refugee children in the Middle East who are served by ANERA, including this little girl.  This is my 20th painting so far and I will continue to paint the children for as long as I am able, to raise awareness of what is needed and the good work that ANERA does.

ANERA makes a big impact, but still there is more work to do.  Here are a few facts: with assistance from ANERA 8,658 refugee youth have returned to school to learn basic skills so that they can help support their families and themselves.  2,000 preschoolers have received school supplies and reading materials.  25 communities in Gaza, and 1,000 people overall have benefitted from being connected to clean water. $49 Million worth of medicine and relief supplies have been delivered to Palestine and Lebanon.  There is much to read at ANERA's site www.anera.org   I do hope you will go to their web site and read about their good work.  I could go on an on, but you should see for yourself. I have met this wonderful family of devoted servants to the cause and am so grateful to them for their tireless efforts and the great work they do.   I hope you will consider a donation to them on this Giving Tuesday.

ANERA stands for American Near East Refugee Aid. 


"879 Simply Irresistible"
acrylic - 12x12 in

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/879-simply-irresistible/637147

869 Education is Key

The new school year began this week in my community and many others, and as I watched neighborhood kids trot off to school with their new paraphernalia and school clothes, I couldn't help but think of the children in Palestine and Lebanon, where education for many is not readily accessible due to poverty and conflict.  Stress and anxiety can prohibit the learning process and development for these children.

In Lebanon, not only is the economy left in turmoil by the 1.5 million Syrian refugees, but so is the education system.  But so many of the Syrian refugee children drop out of school to work to support their families, and many of them have not been enrolled in school at all.

If you have been following my blog, you may recall that I have been painting the refugee children as part of my effort called "The Innocents Project."  This is my 17th painting in the series, which I'm hoping will raise awareness of the innocent children who are caught in the middle of a turbulent situation.  (More on that in the weeks to come!)

I am also working to promote the good work of a Washington, DC headquartered organization called ANERA, American Near East Refugee Aid, a non-political, non-profit group of devoted people in the US and in the Middle East who are committed to restoring dignity to those who live in sub-human conditions.  ANERA provides early childhood education to those like this beautiful young girl, incorporating expressive arts as part of their curriculum.  For older students, they provide non-formal and flexible education to teens so that they can try to go to school and help support their families.  It is often difficult and unaffordable for the children to get transportation to schools outside of their camps, so ANERA is working to educate them in or near their camps.

ANERA seems to cover whatever is needed for the refugee families, renovating schools, improving water systems, distributing medical supplies and relief materials, including shoes and boots for children who otherwise would be barefoot.  I cannot say enough about the work they do, which is so much more than I have described here.  Check their stats and you will see.  Please consider donating to ANERA or at the very least, check out their website to learn about this crucial situation.  www.anera.org.

Thank you so much for your consideration.

"869 Education is Key"
acrylic - 12x12 in

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/869-education-is-key/621756

798 Marwa

Marwa is an outgoing seven year old Syrian refugee who has lived in one of Lebanon's tent camps since she was two years old.  She and her family left their home in Homs, Syria after it was heavily shelled.  She doesn't remember much of her early life.  Marwa has become an "ambassador" or sorts to visitors, particularly to the ANERA (American Near East Refugee Aid) folks who bring supplies to her camp.  She goes to school near the camp, and readily admits she isn't fond of school, however she plans to be a teacher one day.  When asked to draw a  house, she replied, "I cannot draw a house.  I will draw a tent instead.  I don't know what a house looks like."

"Marwa" is the fifth refugee child in my "Innocents Project" series.  She is the first and only child whose name I know so far.  It is important to me to see these children as real people with names, not just falling under a heading called "refugees."  I get an idea of what this spunky little girl is like from other photos showing a gap in her big bright smile where two bottom teeth used to be.  She is seen carrying her little brother, and has boasted that she does better in school than her siblings.  How typical for a seven year old, yet her life is far from typical or normal.

ANERA works to improve the lives of all of the refugees, but particularly for the children.  Please consider a donation to anera.org in honor of a special mother, or "just because" and please mention The Innocents Project.

Happy Mother's Day to all of you!

"798 Marwa"
acrylic - 12x12 in

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/798-marwa/477195

dianecampion.blogspot.com