1038 Noor

 

Several years ago, I began The Innocents Project, my personal effort to raise awareness of the refugee children in the Middle East and the difficulties they face.  I do this also to raise awareness to the good work provided by ANERA.  Noor's portrait is one of the 30-plus portraits I have painted so far.   It's been quite a while since the last portrait, and judging by this one, I am very rusty. I always have trouble with the skin tone and this one was no exception. 

ANERA, which stands for American Near East Refugee Aid, is an American nonprofit that provides educational, medical, and so much more to refugee families in Lebanon and Palestine.  Because only one-third of four and five year olds participate in preschool,  early childhood education is one of ANERA's priorities for  these children during the important formative period.  Noor is a student at the Madama Preschool in the West Bank where ANERA has established the Right Start program, which supports West Bank and Gaza preschools and community organizations.  The Right Support program also gives teachers and parents the tools they need to ensure a healthy future for their children.

ANERA's web site is www.anera.org.  If you would like to learn more about what is provided by this fine organization and what is needed,  please check it out, and if you are so moved, make a donation.

803 I Deserve More

 From all outward appearances, this darling little girl looks normal, right?  She's clean,  her hair is combed and she is wearing a nice big smile on a sunny day (not that all of that makes "normal).  But her life is far from normal.  She is one of too many refugees living in makeshift camps devised from tents or old barracks in Lebanon and Palestine.  In the many photos I have seen of the camps, they appear to be cement walls with a tarp used as a "roof" to connect them.  It's very sad for me to think that this is how this little girl lives and it is the only way she knows to live.   Her family has to beg for clean water to cook, drink and bathe in a bucket.  

ANERA is working very hard to help these children who have faced war and displacement in their very short lives.  They have renovated schools, improved on water systems, and provide shelter, medical supplies, clean clothes, blankets, playgrounds and done everything within their power to make the lives of the displaced Syrians and Palestinians more comfortable and "normal."  

This painting is part of my series of refugee children that I am calling "The Innocents Project."  I am very committed to try to raise awareness of the horrific situations that the children face, with the hope that you will check out the good work that ANERA does (American Near East Refugee Assistance) and consider making a donation to help these children.   This project came about for me because I wasn't satisfied with just sending donations to this worthy cause.  I felt I needed to do more.  I sincerely hope you will go to ANERA's web site to see the reality that these people face and will make a donation.  www.anera.org 

"803 I Deserve More"

acrylic - 12x12 in

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/803-i-deserve-more/483851

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