ABCs and Food for Darfur will inspire local action and address food insecurity for refugees
May 25, 2017 – CULVER CITY, CA – DIRTT Environmental Solutions will host an eclectic evening of excellent food and libations in support of community-based meals and education for refugee children living in camps in eastern Chad. Hosted at DIRTT’s innovative Green Learning Center in Culver City, guests will enjoy appetizers inspired by traditional Darfuri foods, learn about the impact of empowering refugees through education, and take action to plants seeds of peace in communities affected by violence.
DIRTT supports iACT because of their commitment to empowering the disenfranchised through education, training, and leadership programs. Lisa Doell of DIRTT expresses, “After attending an iACT event to benefit the Refugees United Soccer Academy for children and hearing the stories directly from refugees about how iACT’s programs have changed their lives in such a positive way, I felt inspired to get more involved and do what I could to make a difference. Right now, a majority of refugees in eastern Chad are food insecure. After learning this, I knew it was what I wanted to support.”
WHEN: Friday, July 21, 2017 from 5:30 to 8:30pm
WHERE: DIRTT Green Learning Lab at 9014 Lindblade St, Culver City, CA 90232
WHAT: $50 per ticket happy hour to promote seeds of peace in communities affected by violence
WHY: iACT works with the over 320,000 Darfuri refugees who have been living in 12 refugee camps in eastern Chad, many for over a decade. Darfuris have been displaced from their native country due to ongoing aerial and ground attacks against civilians inside Darfur, the western region of Sudan. Entire generations of children born into these overcrowded camps continue to experience trauma from violence, displacement, loss, and uncertainty, living in limbo as they await durable solutions. The disruption of families and community structure as well as the acute shortage of resources deeply affect the physical and psychological well-being of refugees, especially young children. iACT empowers communities who experience trauma from violence, displacement, loss, and uncertainty to build sustainable and durable programs that develop capacity and create a path towards peace.
Little Ripples, the primary program benefiting from the fundraiser, is a refugee-led program that cultivates children’s potential through play-based learning. Refugee women are trained and employed to teach children ages three to five from their community in order to support their physical, cognitive, and social-emotional development. Guided by an advisory board of international experts, the Little Ripples curriculum uses the pillars of peace, helping, and sharing to provide a foundation for daily activities, including mindfulness, and is designed to be adapted and culturally-inspired by the refugee teachers themselves. Daily meals served at the Little Ripples program are sourced and prepared by local refugee women, creating further ripples of impact. Little Ripples recently won the 2016 WISE Awards for innovation in education and is a 2017 finalist for a Classy Award.
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iACT is a Hermosa Beach-based international organization providing humanitarian action to aid, empower, and extend hope to those affected by mass atrocities, creating a world where people are connected and equipped to act. www.iact.ngo
DIRTT (Doing it Right This Time) Environmental Solutions is a manufacturing and technology company creating a positive shift in the construction industry by building interiors in a more sustainable way. We are committed to environmental sustainability and proudly support organizations that build awareness and participation in making the world a better place. www.dirtt.net/
Contact: iACT, Katie-Jay Scott ktj@iact.ngo (310) 738-0285
DIRTT, Lisa Doell ldoell@dirtt.net (310) 351-5859