Community Corner
Jewelry Fundraiser for Kenya's Upendo Village - Sponsored by Rotary Club of Naperville
The Rotary Club of Naperville and Meson Sabika will again present "Tapas & Sangria for the Third Annual Upendo Village Jewelry & Handcrafts" event at Meson Sabika Restaurant, 1025 Aurora Avenue in Naperville on Monday, June 6, 2011 from 5:30PM to 7:30PM.
The Rotary Club of Naperville will be selling handcrafted jewelry, scarves, handbags, and flip flops that are works of art by craftspeople in the Upendo Village of Kenya, Africa.
"We have committed that 100% of the jewelry sales will be donated to Upendo Village to benefit the families and children living there with HIV/AIDS.", said Rotary President Bob Esvander.
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“This is an event that I look forward to every year,” commented Pat Merryweather, one of last year’s attendees at the event. “The quality of the handcrafted items is exquisite, and I appreciate being able to help the Upendo Village community in this way.”
This unique annual fundraiser will feature Sister Florence Muia, the founder of Upendo Village. She will be on site to greet attendees of the event. Sister Florence Muia created Upendo Village in Kenya . She said, "It took about 15 years of silence on HIV & AIDS epidemic in the country before the then President of Kenya, Mr. Daniel Arap Moi, acknowledged HIV and AIDS as a ‘national disaster’ in 1999.'' Sister says that the many years of silence allowed the disease take root in the country. After watching all the suffering, Sister said, " I did not want to sit on the other side of the fence; I strongly felt I wanted to get involved with the fight against HIV and AIDS. I realized that I needed to establish a Kenyan project by and for the Kenyan people." She had a vision of a safe haven for women, men, and children affected by the disease. She called this sanctuary ‘Upendo Village.’”
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To make a reservation for this popular event, please call 630-983-3000, Extension 2; you may pay the $20 entrance fee, which include tapas and sangria, at the door.
To learn more about Upendo Village, please go to www.upendovillage.org or visit them on Facebook at Upendo Village, NFP
For more information about the Rotary Club of Naperville, visit www.napervillerotary.com.
