2021 Year in Review
2021
2021 Updates and Efforts
2021 was probably the most difficult of all years for the COC project in Cambodia. The city of Siem Reap and pretty much all of Cambodia was locked down and closed. All classes halted, along with all visits to schools for teaching. No income from art sales occurred in 2021, and all financing to keep COC alive came from AWOD. On the bright side though, some of the older advanced art students kept coming into the gallery, receiving training from Manager Sophany Sor. Some of the art then in 2021 by our students was phenomenal! This was highlighted in the Calendar we did still issue in 2021 in electronic format.
EL SALVADOR
Our attempts to upstart a dedicated art teaching location in San Vicente El Salvador were ended by COVID in 2021. The opportunity for a free building location in San Vicente died as COVID took over everyone’s lives. The mayor of the town who had offered such a luxury lost his position, and our local manager who was to continue teaching had to leave the town to find other means for financial support elsewhere. In El Salvador children were banned from going into public for well over a year.
It is uncertain as for now if AWOD can recreate a team and a base for teaching art in El Salvador. The dream and aspiration though still does exist!
New Mexico
Chairman Bill Gentry instigated AWOD efforts in New Mexico in 2021. He began meetings and communications with several philanthropic foundations and educational officials, with the intent of teaching art to the children of the various Native American Pueblos and Reservations in New Mexico. Though it was cumbersome during COVID, much headway was made, especially at the Zuni Pueblo, and in the Navajo nation. Several visits were made, tribal councils met, and plans made for future “Art Classes,” in 2022.
Global Give-A-Book
AWOD also in 2021 began to offer financial support and coordination efforts with GGAB. GGAB is a Charity managed by Sylvia Maser with the charter to get reading books into the hands of every underprivileged child in New Mexico, if not the world! Future plans have GGAB and AWOD working together to offer books and art supplies and teaching to the Native American Pueblos, as well as other community sectors in need.
