Press Release: Mali Fundraiser June 13th, Washington, D.C.

AID ORGANIZATIONS, ARTISTS, & CONCERNED CITIZENS COME TOGETHER TO RAISE MONEY & AWARENESS FOR MALI REFUGEE CRISIS

Washington, D.C.  – On June 13^th, 2012, from 6:00-8:00 pm Relief International, Amazigh Heritage, Association des Maliens et Amis du Mali (AMAW)—Washington, D.C., Essakane Film, and the D.C. Network of Arab-American Professionals (NAAP) will host a fundraising event at Busboys and Poets in Washington as part of a $30,000 campaign to launch a Relief International humanitarian mission to support refugees in the region.  

Since a violent rebellion broke out in Northern Mali in January 2012, over 320,000 civilians have been displaced within the country and as refugees in neighboring countries including Burkina Faso, Mauritania, Niger, and Algeria according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

In February, shortly after the crisis began, U.S.-based humanitarian organization Relief International agreed to launch a mission to help the refugees if $30,000 could be raised amongst the organizations and public donations. The hope is that once the $30,000 goal is met, other donor organizations will match this amount to forge a more robust and sustained effort to help the refugees.

While the long-term hope is for renewed peace in the region that will allow the refugees to return home safely, there is a serious and immediate need for food, water, shelter, as well as urgent medical care and education services.  Given the recent military coup in Bamako and increased violence and instability in the North, the refugees will not be able to safely return home anytime soon.

Tickets can be purchased here: http://relief4malirefugees.eventbrite.com/. 

FOR PRESS INQUIRIES PLEASE CONTACT:

Kiley Kraskouskas, 571.421.4901, kiley@essakanefilm.com

Andrea Papitto, 646.520.9946, andrea@essakanefilm.com

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SPONSORING ORGANIZATIONS

RELIEF INTERNATIONAL
Relief International is a humanitarian non-profit agency that provides emergency relief, rehabilitation, development assistance, and program services to vulnerable communities worldwide. Relief International is solely dedicated to reducing human suffering and is non-political and non-sectarian in its mission.

For more information, please visit: http://www.ri.org/malirefugeecrisis.

 AMAZIGH HERITAGE

U.S.-based non-profit organization Amazigh Heritage was created to promote, protect, and share the cultural heritage of the indigenous Amazigh populations (Kabyle, Berber, Tuareg) with the world. Amazigh Heritage programming focuses on advocacy, cultural preservation, cross cultural exchanges, educational events, and humanitarian relief in North Africa.

Association des Maliens et Amis du Mali (AMAW)—Washington, D.C.

The main objective of AMAW is to unify the Malian community in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. AMAW has created a cultural center of Mali (CCM) called "House of Mali," which is devoted to promote Malian culture, tradition and heritage to the United States through active participation in academic, cultural and social activities. The CCM serves as a resource for the Malian diaspora (for their activities in the United States - support services, advice, or help in an emergency) as well as provides networking opportunities for Malian and American businesses, and families. Additionally, AMAW establishes partnerships with schools (universities and colleges) in the metropolitan area to raise awareness about Malian culture and facilitates the implementation of long-term projects involving travel or trade with Mali (eg, summer camp, property investment, statistics), in coordination with the city of Bamako.

For more information, please visit: http://www.amaw.us.

ESSAKANE FILM

From the bustling streets of Bamako to the desolate dunes of the Sahara, Essakane Film takes the audience on a high-definition journey to what was once the most remote music festival in the world–Mali’s Festival au Desert.  Sadly, the Festival in the Desert is now caught in the crossfire of a violent standoff between rebel Tuaregs and the Malian government. The fate of the Festival in the Desert now hangs in the balance.

For more information, please visit: http://www.essakanefilm.com/.

The Network of Arab-American Professionals (NAAP)

The Network of Arab-American Professionals (NAAP) is a non-partisan, volunteer-based organization dedicated to strengthening the Arab-American community. The organization’s mission is both comprehensive and inclusive, empowering the community through social, cultural, professional and political initiatives.

For more information, please visit: http://www.naaponline.org/