National organizations join yearlong effort to raise Darfur awareness

 

San Francisco , Oct. 15, 2007--Sixteen national organizations are participating in a nationwide program to raise awareness of the genocide in Darfur.

 

"Tents of Hope" is a project to encourage a community-based response to

the genocide in Darfur, Sudan through education, advocacy and

fundraising for humanitarian aid.  

 

Communities are invited to raise awareness and support through a local

"Tents of Hope" event.   It is hoped such events will create a simulated

refugee tent and transform it into a hopeful work of art.   The tents

will be painted with a variety of images and scenes conceived and

painted by people from all walks of life.

 

�The tents symbolize our solidarity with those suffering from violence in Darfur,� said Tim Nonn, national coordinator of Tents of Hope. �Cities participating in the project are raising funds for humanitarian relief for Sudan and advocating for protection of innocent civilians in Darfur.�

 

"Tents of Hope" is a one-year project that will culminate in a

collective action as local communities bring their tents and delegations

to a national event in Washington, D.C. in September 2008.   

 

Congregations or groups wishing to obtain a tent or learn more about how

to participate in the project will find complete information at

www.tentsofhope.org. So far groups in about 40 cities have signed on to

the project.

 

Among the groups joining the effort are the United Church of

Christ, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Church World Service,

American Jewish World Service, and Lutheran World Relief, Bay Area Darfur Coalition, Camp Darfur, Dear Sudan, Dream for Darfur, Enough, National Council of Churches of Christ, Our Pledge, Save Darfur Coalition, Save the World, STAND, and US Holocaust Memorial Museum.

 

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Tents of Hope contact:   Tim Nonn, 707.799.1056, [email protected]