WATER FOR CHILDREN AFRICA PRESENTS THE 12TH AFRICAN TRADE AND BUSINESS CONFERENCE NOV. 22

By Miriam Raftery

November 17, 2008 (San Diego) -- The twelfth Annual Africa Trade and Business Conference sponsored by Water For Children Africa will be held November 21-23, 2008. 

Inspired after a visit to Africa with her mother, El Cajon resident Vickie Butcher founded the nonprofit organization to create infrastructure for bringing clean, safe water and medical supplies to help children in rural African villages.

“We will have nonprofit, religious, and education groups, as well as members of the Peace Corps participating,” said Butcher, executive director of Water for Children Africa and chair of the conference.  “The public is invited to our event, which will focus on shared knowledge of the many organizations serving people in need and providing development support in Africa.

The conference will kick off on Friday, November 21st with a free Community Forum open to the public held at the Malcolm X Library from 2-4 pm.  Chuck Ambers of the Casa Del Rey Morro Museum in Old Town will lead a discussion on safe water in rural villages in Africa and in our own community.

The conference workshops hosted on Saturday, November 22nd at the San Diego Natural History Museum in Balboa Park will culminate with a tour of the museum exhibit, ‘H2O = Life’ which is the motto of this non-profit organization. 

Vickie Butcher

Presenters include Dr. Ronnie Lowenstein of Lowenstein & Associates from Washington D.C. and Mick Adkisson of Smart Technologies who co-chair the recently formed Water for Children Africa Technology Task force.  Spotlighted will be emerging partnerships, eg., with SMART Technologies and Foshay Learning Center’s NetGeneration of Youth Cyberjournalist Ambassadors representing Congresswoman Diane E. Watson’s Los Angeles school district (eighteen students will interview participants and honorees); and with Panwapa, a program of Sesame Workshop and Merrill Lynch that cultivates global citizenship. A workshop presentation will be offered that highlights “Technology as a Tool of Transformation, Ensuring Economic, Educational Empowerment in Africa.”

Saturday’s special guest luncheon speaker will be James Callan, Associate Administrator Risk Management Agency, U.S. Department of Agriculture. 

The evening Maji Ni Maisha “Water is Life” Benefit Gala and Silent Auction will be held on the San Diego Maritime Museum’s USS Berkley located next to the Star of India on Harbor Drive.  The evening will be dedicated to the late Director of San Diego State University’s International Student Center, Ron Moffatt.

Bill Stumbaugh, assistant Governor of Rotary International for East County, will highlight activities of Rotary throughout the African Continent at a shared knowledge workshop panel on Saturday at 1 p.m.

Emerging partnerships in smart technologies will be spotlighted and a Panwapa program created by Sesame workshops, which cultivates global citizenship.  A workshop presentation will be offered that highlights technology as a tool of transformation insuring economic and educational empowerment in Africa.  

Individuals and organizations who have contributed to Africa as well as to our local community will be honored at the Gala and Silent Auction on the USS Berkley.  Among them is Bishop George McKinney who will also serve as guest speaker at the Pray for Africa Day on Sunday, November 23, 2008 from 3 to 5 pm at Bethel AME Church on the corner of 31st and K Street.  A candle light special ceremony with 54 flags provided by the United Nations Association representing the 54 Nations in Africa will be followed by a prayer for Africa by First Lady of Bethel AME Church, Rev. Dorisalene Hughes.

Among those on the Honor Roll of Service to be recognized at the Gala are:  Rev. John Ringgold of Bethel Baptist Church; Makeda Dred of the World Beat Center; Evangelist Mary Page of St. Paul’s Church of God In Christ; Alemi Daba and Walter Lam of the Alliance for African Assistance; Marnyce McKell, Connect International and Tema Sister Cities Society; Mr. Roque Borros of the Jacob Center; Mr. Rudy Johnson, Neighborhood House; Rotary District 5340 and the Makau Family Foundation for building a clinic and an orphanage in Kenya.

All past Water For Children Africa Team members will be recognized.  A special salute of appreciation will be extended to David Massey, Education director at the San Diego Natural History Museum for the guidance he and his staff have provided. 

Kathy Loper Events has chosen Water For Children Africa as beneficiary of the 2009 Super Run on January 31, 2009.  For more information visit our web site.

Registration information is available at the Malcolm X Library and online at www.waterforchildrenafrica.org or email water4childrenafrica@cox.net for further details or questions.   Early RSVPs are encouraged.