Bang #28 Schools for Africa

The Delta Kappa Gamma Society International (DKG) adopted Schools for Africa as our first official international project in 2010. Schools for Africa is a partnership between UNICEF, the Nelson Mandela Foundation, and the Hamburg Society. Schools for Africa helps the most disadvantaged children in Africa to get a quality education, focusing on girls, orphans, and other vulnerable youngsters.

Since 2010 DKG members have donated approximately $445,134.90. In 2019-2020 alone we have donated $32,047.65.

Currently the project works with 21 countries in sub-Saharan Africa including: Botswana, Burundi, Chad, Cote d’Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritania, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, Somalia, South Africa, Tanzania, and Uganda. Schools for Africa has reached more than 30 million children.

According to UNICEF's most recent annual report on the Schools for Africa (SFA) project, found on our DKG website, significant gains have been made in:

• 
  Early childhood development
• Access and retention to quality primary basic education
• Non-formal education
• HIV prevention in schools
• Education in emergencies
  

Upon her return from a UNICEF-US Fund Site Visit to Ethiopia in 2019, Immediate Past International President Cathy Daugherty commented: "I was never so proud of DKG as I was touring the schools and medical facilities that DKG contributions made possible in this country. Children and women of all ages were reaping the benefits of DKG members' generosity, making a difference worldwide!"

The DKG website offers many resources for SFA material that can be used by state organizations, chapters and individuals. There are links to two short videos produced by UNICEF and DKG, two SFA Power Points, AND three SFA PDF documents ready for use. All donations must be paid directly to UNICEF using the Schools for Africa Flyer which includes a donation form. Use this link to find these resources.

Giving to Educate the World

Mentoring: Whose Responsibility Is It?

According to Merriam-Webster, “Today, we use the word mentor for anyone who is a positive, guiding influence in another person's life.” So whose responsibility is it to mentor in DKG? It is important to DKG that every member serves as a mentor to others in their chapter and state organization in order to continue to have a strong, sustainable Society!

How can members mentor others in the Society?

●      By inviting to membership educators who you feel would benefit and enrich DKG

●      By being positive, encouraging and supportive to your chapter and state organization leaders

●      By being willing to advise and guide others in positions that you have held in the past

●      By being willing to accept a position of responsibility in your chapter or state organization whether on a committee or as an officer

What are you waiting for? Get out there and starting mentoring!

DKGIEF: Scholarship Fund

When someone asks what DKG does, members often begin with the statement that DKG gives scholarships to members--$6000 for a master’s degree and $10,000 for a doctorate. That’s true. DKG has 31 named scholarships funded by contributions --BUT most years all 31 cannot be awarded because the Scholarship Fund does not have enough money.

Every contribution to the DKGIEF Scholarship Fund makes a difference.

A scholarship from DKGIEF changes an educator. One educator changes thousands of lives in her school and her community. A changed life is a catalyst for global changes. The ripple from just one scholarship reaches far beyond the ken of the recipient.

A contribution to the DKGIEF Scholarship Fund reaches far beyond the ken of the donor. Your gifts to DKGIEF make a large difference in educators, schools, communities—the world.

The DKGIEF Vision Statement is Giving to educate the world. That vision is significant. The effect of giving helps to fulfill that significant vision and stirs visions and creates possibilities that reach into our shared future. 

https://www.dkg.org/DKGIEFDONATE/DKGIEFDONATE/Donate_to_DKG.aspx

 

DKG Arts Gallery Blog: Artist’s Spotlight

An Open Artists’ Discussion on Creation, Technique & Opportunity

‘Fall Solitude’

Patti Simon - Maryland State Organization

1. Tell us about yourself as an educator and an artist.

I taught 9th and 10th grade English for 32 years at Lansdowne High School in Maryland. For part of that time, I also taught Theatre Arts, where I had students of every ability level in grades 9-12. When I taught literature in my English classes, I would sometimes have the students act out certain scenes to make the literature come alive. 

2. What was your inspiration in picking this scene and how did you go about doing it?

During the fall of 2020, my husband and I went for a walk in a local park. At about 3:45 in the afternoon, we came upon the hut that can be seen in my photograph. We first saw it from the other side. After walking past it, I turned around and noticed the way the light was illuminating certain objects while also creating shadows. I liked the serenity of the scene as well as the colors.

3. What kind of photographic device (camera, cell phone) did you use and any tips on taking it.

I used a digital camera. It has automatic focus and a pretty good capacity to zoom, which I used to eliminate other objects and focus on what is seen in the picture.

4. What is the best piece of advice given you as an artist/photographer or that you can give to someone else?

After I retired, my friend Wendy Happel encouraged me to audit a photography course that was being given by Craig Llewellyn, the high school photography teacher. These are some of the main lessons I learned in Craig’s class:

• Lighting is important. Try taking a picture of the same subject/scene at different times of day.
• Perspective is important. Try taking a picture of the same subject/scene from different angles.
• Take lots of pictures. Something is bound to turn out.
• Sometimes taking a good photograph is a matter of being in the right place at the right time.
• There are interesting subjects/scenes everywhere.
• Photographs can capture the good, the beauty, the bad, the ugliness, and everything in between in nature and humanity, all of which make us more aware of the world around us.

5. In your view, what is the value of the creative arts in education?

The creative arts are extremely important in education. They give students a variety of ways to express their thoughts, feelings, and ideas through visual arts (painting, photography, sculpture, etc.), vocal

and instrumental music, dance, acting, and writing (poetry and prose). Also, through art, one can learn about a country’s culture, history, beliefs, etc.

6. Do you have anything else that you would like to share?

I first started taking pictures to preserve memories of people, places, and events. During the pandemic, I found it uplifting to take pictures of nature: sunsets, trees, flowers, butterflies, birds, squirrels, chipmunks, etc. Beauty and joy are everywhere if only we take the time to notice.

 

Screenshots to the Rescue!

Did you know that screenshots of images from the DKG.org website can be used in state/chapter newsletters and websites? Read on for pertinent details.

 Questions to ask yourself before and after using screenshot images:

·         Is the image being used for informational use?

·         If yes, it is considered “Fair Use'' under copyright law. 

·         If not, find another option!

·         Is the source of the image (website address) included in/on the article/website/etc.?

·         If yes, great job!

·         If not, make that correction and move on! 

Remember if additional information is needed, contact your International C&M Committee representative or reach out to International using the chat feature on the DKG.org website.

FYI: Here is the direct link to the C&M Modules. Please share and encourage members to view. Future modules will be uploaded to this location as they are completed.  https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLqsKf5cYj-q4Nro6DQ5TQm8Osl4lAut6s