"Sending Light in the Darkest Time of the Year" is how he signed the invitation to what I refer to here as the Ethiopia Endeavor.  My friend Matt Schlein, executive director of  the Willowell Foundation, reached out to me recently and I gave him my undivided attention. Matt employed a metaphor refering to the season of winter here in Vermont. It conjured an image for meditation: a candle in the day light is less brilliant than a single flame in the darkness. The Ethiopia Endeavor is one way to "Be Light" in the dark.

Ethiopia Endeavor
a.k.a. Castleton University, Vermont Folklife Center & Willowell Foundation  present graduate course Education & Ethnography in Ethiopia:   

- Collaboration of American & Ethiopian
   Non-Profits & NGOs
- Team of 5 Interdisciplinary Artist-Educators
- One Love Theater: HIV/AIDS, Gender Equality    
  Awareness Built through Traveling Performances in     Art, Music, Dance, Circus & Theater
- Context: Schools & Communities

Link to Castleton University Course

Meghan Rigali graduated from the Art Institute of San Francisco with a BFA in Interdisciplinary Studies and the Upper Valley Educator's Institute with Teaching Certification in Art K-12 in Vermont and New Hampshire. Rigali is a working artist bringing insights of her practice to her work as an art educator at Twin Valley Middle High School. She teaches a variety of studio art courses and conceived new metal programming in small-large scale metal sculpture and the oldest applied metal working technique in history relevant accross today's industries, lost wax casting. 
www.linkedin.com/in/MeghanRigali
www.MeghanRigali.com

Meghan's Budget for the Ethiopia Endeavor: 

Lodging, Food, Travel in Ethiopia                              $1250
Expedited Passport & Delivery                                     $300
Vaccinations in Preparation for Travel                      $600
Project / Work Materials & Equipment                    $350

Total Budget $2,500

Additionally, I will bring wishlist donations to Ethiopia in my 2nd pack such as art supplies & tools / materials used to empower communities to make their own art supplies from indigenously sourced materials.

When you choose to give, please specify where
you want to direct your funds:
   
1/2 Meghan's Budget, 1/2 Art Supplies
OR
Make 2 Seperate Donations with Title
"Art Supplies" or "Meghan's Budget"

How Soon Do I Need the Funds?

Countdown for Art Supplies: February 17th

Countdown for Meghan's Budget: Rolling Deadline



One Thousand Thanks
to all of you who have already and will offer 
your support & encouragement !!!