Art for Global Justice and Of Rags holds sustainable fashion benefit party in Accra

On Friday, July 16th, the W.E. B. Du Bois Centre near the American Embassy will host the organizations Art for Global Justice and Of Rags: sustainable fashion benefit party from 7:00 – 10:00 pm highlighting the work of their educational and sustainable development initiatives to the public and the press.

The event will feature live music by D Black and the Black Avenue Muzik Family, Guru, Westside, Guru, Wadon, and AnanseDemz as well as art works created by children from Jamestown.A collection of photos from youth at the Buduburam Liberian Refugee Camp, and Of Rags fair trade clothing will be showcased. Guests of Honor include Miss Jennifer Koranteng ( Miss Universe Ghana 2009) and Irene Logan. 5 GHC entrance fee will go directly to pay the school fees of children who have participated in the programs sponsored by the organizations.

Art for Global Justice seeks to use the power of art to create social change both locally and globally. Founded in 2009 by a New York University in Ghana student, Alex Cunningham, the non-profit organization leads youth workshops, art exhibitions and art exchange programs. Currently Alex and her colleague, Brenda Vicente, are leading a two week youth workshop at the Accra Sempe schools in Jamestown, Accra.

Approximately 200 Level 5 students are involved in the program, which seeks to promote aspirations for personal future success and community building through creative expression. In addition, Alex and Brenda are conducting mural workshops at Jaynii Streetwise, a local non-profit organization that works with street children in Jamestown.The event on the 16th will include artworks produced by the children.

Of Rags is a fair trade fashion cooperative for sustainable community development.The organization is the fruit of a design and business partnership between Ghanaian designer Raphael Adjetey Adjey Mayne, or RAAM, and J Branson Skinner, an American social entrepreneur and student at New York University.

Together RAAM and Branson have developed a clothing line fit for any occasion. They have committed to giving 40% of their profits from the sales of their clothing to a unique collaboration that they’ve set up between the West Africa AIDS Foundation and the Special Education Needs and Drama Therapy Centre in order to create a teacher’s assistant training program.

This program will capacitate young women to lead peer education workshops on public health topics such as HIV/AIDS and also to work with students with special educational needs.

The remaining proceeds from clothing sales will help grow the organization to achieve the greatest impact.

Of Rags has partnered with the Shelter. Clothing. Health Care. Education. Food. Organization at the Buduburam Liberian Refugee camp in order to provide Fair Trade jobs to an otherwise jobless community.

Clothing will be available for sale and to order. For more information on Of Rags: sustainable fashion, please visit www.ofrags.com. or please visit www.artforglobaljustice.org.