Malaika Thorne in Dansa, photo courtesy of the Harvard Post.

March 24th, at 7:30 p.m.

Cronin Auditorium at the Bromfield School
14 Massachusetts Avenue (Rte 111)
Harvard, MA, 01451

Since the spring of 2002, the Cronin Auditorium in Harvard, Mass. has rocked to the rhythms of high-energy dance and music of West Africa. In recent years, the repertoire has been expanded to include music and dance from the African diaspora, contemporary as well as traditional dance forms, including hip-hop and Afro-fusion selections.

Performers this year include: Teriya Dance Company; Troupe Teranga, under the direction of Alice Heller; the “Hip-Hop Mamas” from Sudbury, led by Elizabeth Bernstein; a group of senior women called Dance ‘n Feet; and Latin, jazz and contemporary dance groups from the Movement Center in Acton and the Harvard Academy of Dance.

Malian Master Drummer Moussa Traore

A fantastic group of drummers will be led by Malian Master Drummer Moussa Traore. The program includes traditional dances from Mali, Guinea and Senegal, plus dance and music from the African diaspora – Hip-Hop, Break dance, Jazz, and more! Ticket are available at the door : $15 adults, $5 students, kids 4 and under are free.

All the proceeds of these two shows go directly to our new school projects scheduled for the fall of 2012.

As of November, our 8^th and 9^th schools are  currently  under construction in the rural  villages  of Sossoro and N’Galamatiebougou. Our first 7 schools were built in a very successful partnership with the international charity Save the Children. However, Save the Children has shifted its focus, at least temporarily, to concentrate on teacher training programs, and is no longer building many schools. But school buildings are still desperately needed, with many children attending classes in windowless storerooms, crumbling mud-brick buildings, or temporary shelters.

As a result, Build a School in Africa has teamed up with a trustworthy construction company  in Sikasso with extensive experience building schools to government standards. Generally a village is able to raise enough money to build just one classroom at a time, but with help from Build a School in Africa, the community will get an additional one or two classrooms, plus latrines and an office/storage building.

To celebrate our sixth full year working in Mali, our partners designed this wonderful new logo for us!

Judy Lorimer, director of Build a School in Africa, visits Mali  (at her own expense) each November for 3-4 weeks, with our annual contribution to help build the next school. In addition to our own regular fund-raising activities, we have received extraordinary support from individuals, schools, colleges, and organizations.

Students  have raised money running spaghetti suppers, car washes, neighborhood yard work, pet and babysitting jobs, bake sales, yard sales, talent shows, and other events. Generous individuals and organizations in the U.S., Canada, Europe and Australia  have made substantial contributions, and every donation, whether from a kindergartener who saved her  allowance to donate $10.00, or from those fortunate enough to be able to write large checks, helps build the next school.

It’s a great project for kids to work on, since  100% of the money they raise goes into the construction fund. Include your e-mail or mailing address and we’ll send you a picture of the school when it’s finished. Over the years, we’ve been helped by the generous contributions from a number of extraordinary individuals and organizations.

• In 2009, the Binnie family raised $10,000 for the school in Mounkonkoro, which was named after grandfather Wlliam D. Binnie.
• In 2010, the Hillside School in Montclair New Jersey raised $10,000 to help build a school in Heremakono in memory  of  Alan Elder, a beloved teacher.
• A  family in the Pacific Northwest raised $10,000 in honor of the patriarch’s 80th birthday, which helped fund the primary school in Tabarako.
• In 2011, two high school seniors from the McNeil High School in Austin, Texas raised over $11,500  for the school presently under construction in Sossoro.
• A school project, “Schools 4 Schools”,  in Australia, plus some significant private donations, are helping to fund the new school in N’Galamatiebougou.

These are just a few examples of our many supporters. Please consider making a small contribution and joining our movement to improve the lives of children in Africa!

Learn more on our Contibute page.

Horseback riders in the New England area have been helping raise funds for the project  for several years, bringing their horses to the “Build a School in Africa” Benefit Trail Ride,  co-sponsored by the Littleton Horse Owners Association.

The ride is held in Groton, Mass. during the summer, usually late August.  The ride starts at  Willowbrook Farm; riders follow a marked trail through beautiful town and state conservation lands, choosing  a route of approximately 12 or 18 miles, much of which follows the scenic Nashua River.

There is an on-trail snack stop with water for the horses, and after the ride, participants enjoy a home-cooked African buffet dinner of dishes from several countries. The ride is affiliated with New England Horse and Trail, with members receiving mileage credit for themselves and their horses.

For information about this year’s ride, check the NEHT website or contact Judy Lorimer.