The Murals of the Mind Project

Peace & Blessings to All

I'm Kenyetta Overton, co-founder and director of the 501(c)3 charity The Murals of the Mind Project (M.O.M.). I'm writing to you on behalf of the volunteers participating in M.O.M.’s Volunteer Cultural Exchange Ambassadors Project.

The goal of the project is for volunteers to share and exchange knowledge and experiences by engaging in cultural, educational, and creative exchanges with others around the world. This year, we will travel with partner organizations to Kenya and Ghana. While in Africa, three youth ambassadors and escorts will serve as community outreach support, youth program facilitators, guest speakers, coaches, and mentors for eight weeks beginning mid-September. The Murals of the Mind Project is privileged to return to these familiar places, where we once again will have the honor of supporting youth and communities to grow their successes. The group will also have opportunities to participate in various local activities, including exploring the Mnarani ruins in Kenya and experiencing the Asogli Yam Festival in Ghana, which everyone is very excited about!

Thus far, we’ve raised nearly $1,500.00 in offline support. All fundraising is to cover costs. We are asking that you to please consider helping us on this journey. Every bit of support is extremely helpful, and it will go such a long way!

In 2022, M.O.M. took our first trip to Africa. In August, we journeyed to Ghana, and in November, we traveled to Kenya. Both were highly successful and life-affirming. To find out more about our previous trips please visit us on Instagram Facebook and Twitter.

During the first part of this year’s trip, the team will visit Nairobi and Kilifi, Kenya, learn about the history and culture there, engage in cultural activities with youth in Nairobi’s Kibera community and participate in excursions that include visits to Kenya’s Parliament and the Kenyatta International Convention Center, lead youth development programming at Kijiji Sanaa, and participate in community outreach at Dera Brightway Middle School and Bofa Beach in Kilifi.

In Ghana, ambassadors will facilitate workshops for college-age interns at Pagus: Africa and enrichment workshops during the Airfield School summer camp in Ho Volta as well as visit the community of Wayanu, where coconut and fruit trees are abundant. The team will visit museums and the Centre for National Culture in Accra for shopping and to see the latest art gallery installations, and meet with young artists, entrepreneurs and students. M.O.M.’s 2023 ambassadors include a university student and a young visual artist and educator, both from New York along with an arts and culture curator from Philadelphia.

During this year’s excursion, participants will use digital storytelling, giving first-hand accounts of their journey, creating audio and video projects and posting on social media. All ambassador engagements are focused on inclusion and emphasize collaborative active participation and that includes community feedback. M.O.M.’s Volunteer Cultural Exchange Ambassadors Project is multi-leveled and aims to develop the following traits in its participants:

• Cultural Awareness

• Historical Understanding

• Develop a Worldview

• Global Civic Engagement

• Global Community Outreach

• Cultural Nuance

• Cultural Exchange

• Peer to Peer Learning

• Global Interconnectedness

Although we continue to provide post-pandemic programming and support to youth across the United States and around the world online, our team recognizes the value of face-to-face interactions. We are pleased to be able to work with young people in Kenya and Ghana again. We are humbled by the incredible opportunity to reconnect, network, encourage, train, and support our youth in Africa in ways that cannot be matched by online environments.

We are Africa bound! Help M.O.M. get there to help others!

Funds raised will be used to enable us to carry out this impactful project. So, whether you donate a little or a lot, every contribution will make an impact. Join us! With your support, we can make a difference. Thank you in advance for your contribution to this cause. We appreciate you!

At The Murals of the Mind Project, our mission is to empower and transform the lives of young people through Youth Development that promotes creativity, critical thinking, and leadership skills.

We envision a world where all young people are inspired & equipped to face challenges head-on.

We strive to promote educational excellence and preparedness and encourage youth to custom design their narratives, expand peer networks, embrace their majesty, and celebrate and accept their uniqueness – quirks and all.

The Murals of the Mind Project

If M.O.M. won't...who will?