The history of the world lies in its textiles.  We need to preserve and study them.  Thank you for all you do!

Building community one story at a time. thank you for the many gifts you provide.

My experience during those 5 years opened a lot of doors from that time until now! I will always be grateful with this great university! 

ATA is one of few spaces that still feels like old san francisco. ATA forever!! 

El ITBA me dio todo lo mejor en mi vida, mi socio, amigos, el SABF y alas para crear. 
Sigamos apoyandolo, 
Dilu

An international study centre for textiles, textile crafts, and dress, worldwide and from prehistory to the present day.

The Textile Research Centre (TRC) is a knowledge centre set up in 1991 as an independent foundation. Since 2009 it is housed at Hogewoerd 164, in the centre of historic Leiden, The Netherlands. Here it has the use of an exhibition space, a large depot, offices and workrooms. The basic aim of the TRC is to give the study of textiles, dress, and accessories their proper place in the field of humanities and social sciences, but also in the context of crafts and craft education. The TRC does so by providing courses and lectures, carrying out research and by the presentation of textiles and dress from all over the world. The two main focal points of the TRC are (a) dress and identity: what people wear in order to say who they are and (b) textile crafts and technology, both pre-industrial and industrial.

In order to reach its objectives, the TRC houses various collections, of more than 50,000 items, including a Textile and Garment Collection and a Reference Collection for fibres, threads, dyes, weaves, printed and machine embroidered textiles, and so forth. Most of the objects are photographed, and are available online (open access), with detailed information, In addition, research is aided by the TRC’s library (some 6,500 books, a large collection of articles, as well as visual material such as photographs, prints and postcards). Students, designers and academics come from many countries to Leiden to use the TRC’s facilities and to attend workshops and courses.

Stichting Textile Research Centre

Story House Ithaca brings people together to share, study, create, and enjoy stories in all their forms.

Story House Ithaca brings people together around stories. We define “story” very broadly, to include fiction and nonfiction, poetry and song, documentary, journalism, photography, audio, film, theater, puppetry, visual and performance art, graphics, dance, and every other way of communicating ideas and experience. Our definition of “house” is also broad. We hope eventually to settle into our own space, but for now we’re excited to be popping up around the community.

**The Problem**

Our society is going through a period of fracturing, as people of different socioeconomic, cultural, and educational backgrounds divide into ever more insular groups. One reason for this is a lack of opportunities for people to interact in meaningful and non-threatening ways. This has had disastrous consequences in politics, public health, and many other areas.
  
 **Our Approach**

- Story House creates. We dream up, organize, and present workshops, discussions, readings, talks, screenings, exhibitions, performances, participatory projects, and other activities. 
- Story House collaborates. We work with organizations, artists, activists, scholars, and others to plan and present compelling programming. 
- Story House connects. We help creative people and groups find new partners and reach new audiences. 
- Story House empowers. We help members of our community acquire the skills they need to tell the stories they want to tell.

In all our programs and activities, we are committed to creating inclusive spaces that welcome diversity. We strive to foster interactions between people of different cultures, ethnicities, and socioeconomic backgrounds, with the goal of working toward shared understanding and a more equitable, anti-racist society.
 
**Our Team**

Lesley Greene (co-director) is a producer, designer, writer, and director. She worked for many years at the Kitchen Theatre Company, where she curated and produced three performance series, created sound and projection designs, and served as chief grant writer and head of marketing. She is a co-founder and co-organizer of Porchfest, a festival that began in Ithaca in 2007 and now takes place in more than 150 cities across North America.
  
Jonathan Miller (co-director) is a writer, journalist, editor, radio producer, podcaster, and media project leader whose work has taken him to more than 20 countries. Since 2006, he has been executive director of Homelands Productions, an award-winning journalism collective that specializes in public radio features and documentaries. Jon serves on the board of Ithaca City of Asylum and coordinates the ONWARDS project, which seeks to help displaced writers, artists, human rights defenders, and scholars find stability in the USA.
 
**Contact information** 

Lesley Greene and Jonathan Miller, co-directors
[info@storyhouseithaca.org](mailto:info@storyhouseithaca.org) 
   

Story House Ithaca

ITBA  Engineering, Technology & Business argentine university. A non-profit achieving proven levels of excellence among graduates.

For more than 65 years, ITBA - Instituto Tecnólogico de Buenos Aires  has contributed to solving the challenges of humanity through a university education recognized for its excellence, the production of scientific knowledge and international collaboration, and outstanding levels of excellence among its graduates.

Thanks to the financial contribution of companies and individuals, scholarships are obtained so that young people  with talent, passion and determination, can study at ITBA.

ITBA invests in people, in the equipment and infrastructure necessary to be at the forefront of technological progress.

The photo that illustrates this space (courtesy of Matt Dahle)  captures ITBA Rocketry Team celebration after successfully launching their hybrid rocket engine entirely designed and built at our labs by a team of 40 students from different careers, teachers and university technicians in record time of 9 months.
Together they developed LANIN a hybrid rocket and became the first Latin American team to launch it successfully with engines using solid and liquid propellants. 
Spaceport America Cup June 2024

 ITBA - Instituto Tecnológico de Buenos Aires

Artists' Television Access is an all-volunteer, artist-run, underground and experimental media arts gallery founded in 1984.

Artists’ Television Access is a San Francisco-based, artist-run, non-profit organization that cultivates and promotes culturally-aware, underground media and experimental art. We provide an accessible screening venue and gallery for the presentation of programmed and guest-curated screenings, exhibitions, performances, workshops and events. We believe in fostering a supportive community for the exhibition of innovative art and the exchange of non-conformist ideas.

Artists' Television Access

Empowering Palestinians since 1983 through education, culture and relief programs in Palestine and beyond. Together, we build hope

**Taawon (Welfare Association)** is a **non-profit**, **civic organization** launched in **Geneva** in the year **1983**, upon the initiative of a group of **Palestinian and Arab economists** and intellectuals.
**Taawon has become one of the largest organizations operating in Palestine and the diaspora camps in Lebanon**, whereby it touches the lives of **more than one million Palestinians** on an annual basis, with half of these beneficiaries being **women**.
**Since its establishment, Taawon has invested funds reaching nearly US $900 million, dedicated to development and relief programs.**

**Taawon’s record** over the past 40 years reflects a journey full of achievements reinforced by **strong partnerships**.
Taawon’s long and rich experience has enabled it to:

- Overcome **obstacles** and **difficult conditions** due to the **Israeli occupation**
- Find **innovative and creative solutions** to crises
- Remain responsive to needs despite **social and economic instability**

Taawon maintains a presence in:

- **Palestine**
- **Jordan**
- **Lebanon**
- **Switzerland**
- **Great Britain** (via its sister organization)

Its **interventions reinforce the steadfastness** of **Palestinian citizens** in **Palestine** and the **refugee camps in Lebanon**.

**Taawon aims to:**

- **Empower Palestinian individuals** and **civil society institutions**
- Strengthen **identity**, **freedom**, **democracy**, and **human values**
- Preserve **Palestinian cultural heritage**, highlighting its **unique position**
- Unleash the creative energies of **youth**, **women**, and **children**
- Provide **equal opportunities** for all segments of society
- Promote **creativity** and **excellence** despite the most difficult circumstances

**Taawon works in partnership** with civil society organizations through:

- Purposeful planning
- High-standard policies

Guided by:

- The **Universal Declaration of Human Rights**
- The **United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)**
- The **Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity**

🏅 *Awards & Recognition:*

- **Taawon Awards for Excellence & Creativity**, granted annually to those advancing **sustainable development in Palestine** 
- Recipient of the **Mahatma Award (2018–2020)** for **COVID‑19 humanitarian efforts** [taawon.org](https://www.taawon.org/en/content/awards-received?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

***Our Vision****:*

*“To envision the Palestinian people as citizens of an independent, free, democratic Arab Palestine, living in dignity, prosperity and self‑fulfillment.”*

Taawon (Welfare Association)

MG Foundation empowers under represented youth through fitness apprenticeships, with guaranteed high income generating futures.

The Mallory Gaston Foundation is dedicated to empowering at-risk youth from Marin, San Francisco, and Alameda Counties through career exploration and internships in the health and fitness sector. Our mission is to create viable work opportunities and foster the development of responsible and engaged citizens through this transformative program. By providing education and purpose, we aim to bridge the gap between marginalized communities and the broader masses, instilling understanding, empathy, and empowerment.

Our Commitments:

1. Empowering At-Risk Youth: We are committed to providing underserved youth with the tools, resources, and opportunities necessary to explore and pursue careers in the health and fitness sector. Through mentorship programs, internships, and hands-on experiences, we aim to instill confidence, passion, and a sense of purpose in each participant.
2. Creating Viable Work Opportunities: We believe that every individual, regardless of their background, deserves access to meaningful and sustainable employment. By partnering with local businesses, organizations, and professionals in the health and fitness industry, we strive to create pathways to viable work opportunities for our program participants, ensuring a brighter future for them and their communities.
3. Fostering Responsible and Engaged Citizens: Our program goes beyond career exploration; we are dedicated to nurturing well-rounded individuals who are actively involved in their communities. Through our comprehensive curriculum, we emphasize the importance of personal growth, leadership, and social responsibility, equipping our participants with the skills and mindset necessary to become compassionate and engaged citizens.
4. Bridging Communities and Instilling Understanding: We envision a society where everyone is valued and understood, regardless of their background or circumstances. By connecting youths from marginalized communities with the broader masses through our program, we aim to break down barriers, develop empathy, and create a sense of unity. We believe that education and purpose serve as the foundation for building bridges of understanding within our community.

Through our unwavering commitment to at-risk youths, viable work opportunities, responsible citizenship, and community bridge-building, The Mallory Gaston Foundation strives to make a lasting impact on the lives of our young people and the communities we serve. Together, we can create a brighter future for all.

The Mallory Gaston Foundation

We host 300+ social impact projects across Europe 

Open Collective Europe promotes charitable initiatives within the European Union, with a focus on Education, Social Impact and Civic participation, and provides such initiatives with a simple and transparent way to manage their finances. Open Collective Europe's mission is to promote projects in the EU with the following charitable purposes: - increasing access to educational resources and training,  - creating a positive social impact and  - developing tools to improve civic participation within cities or communities. Future perspectives At the beginning of 2022, we shared our desire to grow the Open Collective Europe community. Our goal is to make the community more vibrant, supported and resilient. We set out to build a more comprehensive fiscal hosting service and support system for our collectives.  

Open Collective Europe

Indie Short Film Festival lifts diverse voices through films, panels, and youth programs that inspire culture, dialogue, & change.

The **2026 Indie Short Film Festival (ISFF)** returns March 20–22, 2026, bringing an expanded and dynamic program to downtown Charlottesville. Now in its third year, the festival will showcase **100+ short films** from independent filmmakers across the U.S. and abroad, alongside panel discussions, workshops, Brunch Awards, Screenwriting Competition,live music events, and community-centered programming that celebrates storytelling in all its forms.

The festival’s official selections span a wide range of **film blocks**, including **animation, documentary, and live-action short films**, curated around compelling themes that explore personal journeys, social issues, cultural identity, humor, resilience, and imagination. Together, these films reflect the diversity and creative ambition driving today’s independent film landscape.

The festival’s programming takes place in six venues, all conveniently located on the vibrant downtown mall. 

**Panels, Partnerships, and Conversations that Matter**

A cornerstone of ISFF 2026 is its robust lineup of **panel discussions** featuring filmmakers, industry professionals, scholars, and creatives. Topics include **Animation**, **Artificial Intelligence in Film**, **Distribution**, **Screenwriting**, **Women in Film**, **The Black Experience in American Cinema**, and more.

New for 2026 is a **premier partnership with the Festival of the Book**, debuting the panel **“Words on Pages to the Screen,”** which explores how novels and literary works are adapted into films. This timely collaboration bridges literature and cinema, offering audiences a deeper look at the creative and practical process of adaptation.

Also new for the festival, the Indie short Film Festival has partnered with the **School of Visual Arts New York** presenting an animation film block loaded with 14 outstanding animated films. 

**New Initiative**

**The Youth Internship Pathway Program** (YIPP) provides closer look for local youths into the world of opportunities the film industry offers in terms of careers. Often young people look at the "movie business" as something you can only dream about or be very lucky to achieve, as they are mesmerized by the stardom of the people in front of the camera. But have no idea of the people who actually make it all happen. The crafts of being a Gaffer, Grib, Assistant Camera Operator, Camera Operator, Director of Photography, Set Designer, and many other positions are not known to the average person watching a film. YIPP connects the intern with a visiting filmmaker with a film in the festival to shadow them part of the weekend with a formal sit down lunch, the intern attending panel discussions and the film screening of the paired filmmaker, and later providing the festival with a report of their learning,

**Launch Party, Competitions, and Workshops**

The festival kicks off with a high-energy Launch Party featuring the popular band SHAGWÜF, starring Sally Rose, with music by DJ Dutchie. The event brings filmmakers, artists, and the community together to celebrate the start of the weekend in true ISFF style.

ISFF 2026 also features a **Screenwriting Competition**, culminating in a live **Table Read Event**, where selected screenplays are performed before an audience—highlighting emerging voices and the craft of storytelling at its earliest stage.

For filmmakers and creatives looking to sharpen their skills, the festival will host a **Cinematography Workshop**, offering practical insights into visual storytelling, camera techniques, and creative decision-making behind the lens.

**Celebrating Excellence**

The weekend concludes with the **Sunday Brunch Awards** **and screenings**, honoring outstanding films, performances, and creative achievements across multiple categories. The awards ceremony provides a celebratory close to a weekend dedicated to independent voices and cinematic excellence.

The **2026 Indie Short Film Festival** continues its mission to serve as a platform for diverse storytelling, education, and meaningful dialogue—connecting filmmakers and audiences through film, conversation, and community.

**Tickets, passes, and full schedule information will be announced soon.**
For updates, visit [**www.indieshortfilmfestival.net**](http://www.indieshortfilmfestival.net/) and follow the Indie Short Film Festival on social media. To join the festival as a sponsor, email asureshot1@gmail.com

Indie Short Film Festival

Sing Democracy 250 is a stirring musical odyssey commemorating the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.

In a world where division seems to be the norm, we stand united. 

We are musicians, singers, artists, and advocates, all bound by the belief that music can bridge the gaps and mend the divides. 

Our mission is simple yet profound: to bring people together, to celebrate our shared humanity, and to recommit to the promise of a "more perfect union."

Founded by Gary Aamodt and Celia Ellingson, Together In Hope Project, a Minneapolis-based nonprofit organization, serves as the driving force behind Sing Democracy 250.

Sing Democracy 250 

The Friends of Bangladesh works to protect human rights and democracy in Bangladesh.


In early August 2024, opposition to an autocratic regime in Bangladesh grew to the point where the government collapsed, and the now former Prime Minister fled the country. Nobel laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus was then appointed Chief Adviser to lead an Interim Government. In response to this changing landscape, what had been the Protect Yunus Campaign transformed into what is now called ["Friends of Bangladesh,"](https://www.thefriendsofbangladesh.com/) which is supporting positive outcomes in the world's eighth most populous country during this critical interim period. In so doing, we seek to advance the well-being of the people of Bangladesh. 

Friends of Bangladesh needs additional funding to continue its activities in five areas:

1. Provide timely analysis of the evolving situation in Bangladesh through our website, [blog](https://www.thefriendsofbangladesh.com/blog/), webinars, and active social media channels (in part to combat disinformation circulating online about the current situation in the country).
2. Promote harmonious relations between Bangladesh and neighboring countries that have the ability to influence events there through strategic communications, online and in-person convenings, and effectively coordinating with allies and friends of Bangladesh.
3. Engage in a proactive media relations strategy, including the placement of op-eds and ensuring unbiased and fact-based coverage by influential regional media outlets that shape public opinion in the region and beyond.
4. Inform, mobilize, and grow the network of allies of Bangladesh around the world, including members of the Bangladeshi diaspora and others interested in seizing this historic moment for the nation to thrive.
5. Support the efforts of [a private foundation](https://jssfbd.com/) set up by Professor Yunus to ensure appropriate assistance to an estimated 20,000 students and others who were injured during the July/August uprising by police and paramilitaries, and also to compensate the families of the 1,400 who were killed. The government has allocated $8.3 million to this foundation but that amount is nearly 100% expended, and the foundation is seeking private donations to support future activities and victim compensation. We have developed relationships with [Myriad USA](https://www.every.org/july-shaheed-smrity-foundation), [Myriad Australia](https://myriadaustralia.org/services/donate/july-shaheed-smrity-foundation/), and [Transnational Giving Europe](https://donate.transnationalgiving.eu/landing/July_Shaheed_Smrity_Foundation?lang=en_EN) to allow for tax deductibility for donations from the United States, Australia, Belgium, the United Kingdom, and Germany.

[Gutenberg Communications](https://www.thegutenberg.com/), the digital marketing and public relations firm we have retained since January 2024, and the three part-time staff of Friends of Bangladesh, are all veterans of the Protect Yunus Campaign and have built up a high degree of trust with Professor Yunus, his team, and other civil society actors. The two co-directors—Sam Daley-Harris and Alex Counts—have been associated with Bangladesh and Professor Yunus since the 1980s. Friends of Bangladesh works closely with allies in Europe, India, Japan, South Korea, and beyond.

Friends of Bangladesh partners with Global Impact to ensure tax deductibility for all donations and intends to register as a tax-exempt entity in 2025, provided sufficient funding can be secured. 

*For more information, contact Alex Counts, [alexcounts09@gmail.com](mailto:alexcounts09@gmail.com) and +1-202-257-8739*

Friends of Bangladesh

Since 1945, Neighborhood House of Milwaukee has inspired discovery in generations of youth and families.

Neighborhood House of Milwaukee's mission is to inspire discovery in children and families of all backgrounds so they become lifelong learners and confident leaders among their peers, families, and communities. 

Our accredited programs include:

- **Early Childhood Program (ECP)** (ages 6 weeks - 4 years). NH’s state-licensed and nationally accredited, early childhood program provides exceptional care and education that supports age-appropriate development and ensures school readiness. ECP also includes Early Head start programming for infants and toddlers up to age 3.
- **School-Age Youth Programs** (ages 5-12) includes a state-licensed, before- and after-school program at NH, an after-school Safe Place initiative at Story Elementary, and Summer Programming. These initiatives provide educational enrichment, recreation, and community engagement.
- **Teens on the Move Program** (ages of 13-19) provides engaging activities that focus on life and leadership skills, violence prevention, vocational preparedness, health, and recreation.
- **Family Programming** features free or very low-cost educational, cultural and holiday events.
- **International Learning Program (ILP)** offers English as a Second Language, basic education, and citizenship instruction, employment skills training, and access to resources to 200+ adult refugees and immigrants annually.
- **Environmental Education Program (EE)**. One of the oldest environmental and science education programs in the area, EE offers science-based education and enrichment activities using a NH-developed curriculum.
- **Community Education** offers health and wellness events and engages in community-wide health programs. Specific offerings include our annual health resource fair, fall flu immunization clinic, and health workshops.

Neighborhood House of Milwaukee

SFNF is San Francisco's premiere performance art troupe and a fiscally sponsored project of Intersection for the Arts.

The San Francisco Neo-Futurists are a collective of wildly prolific artists dedicated to the perpetual creation of experimental theatre that is immediate, ephemeral, accessible, and cheap. We believe the stage is an extension of daily life: we perform as ourselves in a non-illusory, interactive style that challenges the audience to create alongside us as active participants with a voice of their own. We respect and uplift each other on and off stage through non-hierarchical accountability, collective decision-making, and anti-oppression practice of all kinds. We do over 100 shows a year and we will never stop. 

San Francisco Neo-Futurists

Momus is an online platform for art writing and criticism (including Momus: The Podcast, mentorship programs, and publishing).

In October 2024, *Momus* celebrated its tenth anniversary. Our platform continues to grow in momentum and reach—finding new audiences at a time when many legacy publications are losing trust and relevance. We have raised our writers' rates by over 400% in the past decade. Momus is in a period of growth; in the past year, our readership has increased by over 15%, and the number of applications to our mentorship programs has more than doubled.

Our editors and contributors are experiencing an increased sense of responsibility in a diminished field; this is a vital moment for *Momus* to serve a growing audience and stabilize our future. We offer the kind of resources that have become increasingly rare and necessary to arts writing, criticism, and culture reporting. We have built an ecosystem for arts discourse that is multivocal, creative, and flourishing; a foundation to welcome new writers and readers for years to come.

*Momus* relies on the support of sponsors and individual readers. Please visit our Support page for how you can contribute to *Momus*: https://momus.ca/support/

Momus

The Foundation's operations are mainly in Palestine and in the United Kingdom through the Mosaic Rooms.

We support children, teachers, and young artists in the fields of culture and education 
 
The A. M. Qattan Foundation (AMQF) is an independent, non-profit organization working in the fields of culture and education, with a focus on children, teachers, and young artists. Founded and registered as a charity in the United Kingdom in 1993, the Foundation operates mainly in Palestine, Lebanon and the UK. Our Vision   A just, free, enlightened, and tolerant society with an active global presence that embraces dialogue and produces knowledge, art, and literature Our Mission   Achieve a dynamic cultural environment that is conducive to the production of emancipatory thought and knowledge Our Values Rights and dignity for all; Freedom, pluralism, dialogue, and the production of knowledge; A spirit of collegial productivity; The courage to act justly and ethically. Strategic Goals 2020–2024 Develop and disseminate cultural output to a wide public, encouraging it to become more active and responsive; Strengthen existing cultural, artistic, and educational structures to make them more dynamic and capable of producing critical and emancipatory thought and knowledge; Work towards an ecosystem conducive to the Foundation's role and mission; Promote the A. M. Qattan Foundation as a pioneering institution and an inspiring model; Ensure financial sustainability.

A.M. Qattan Foundation

The Together In Hope Project is a nonprofit organization focused on changing lives through music with a purpose. 

The Together In Hope Project is a nonprofit organization focused on changing lives through music with a purpose. We create unique, music-anchored projects on issues of our shared humanity to promote healing and reconciliation.

Together In Hope Project

CTA supports change makers in creating communities that are ecologically sound, socially just and work for everyone.

The Center for Transformative Action (CTA) helps create communities that are socially just, ecologically sound, and work for everyone. We do this through our educational programs and by supporting system-changing projects with incubator and fiscal sponsorship services. Our projects work to transform the structures, as well as the habits of mind, that produce inequities in our communities, country, and the world. Their courage, innovative thinking, and heart-centered approach show us what is possible. 

CTA is an independent 501(c)3 organization affiliated with Cornell University since 1971. It is located on the original land of the Gayogohó:no’ (Cayuga) Nation.

To see a complete listing of CTA projects and learn more about our organization, visit our [website](https://www.centerfortransformativeaction.org/).

Center for Transformative Action

The Rivanna Area Queer Center provides a safe refuge for all LGBTQIA+ people 
in Charlottesville and the surrounding counties.

LGBTQIA+ people need spaces of our own where we can take refuge, build resilient communities, and organize for our collective liberation. RAQC provides a safe and loving home for the queer community in Charlottesville and the surrounding counties. Programming at RAQC addresses multiple areas of need: support groups, peer counseling, and on-site mental health professionals contribute to the emotional wellbeing of our community. Classes and workshops on topics as diverse as screen printing, foraging, and self defense address our physical and creative needs. Social events like mixers, parties, and performances ensure that our region’s vibrant queer culture continues to flourish. In addition to our own programming, RAQC also serves as a safe and accessible space where all local queer organizations and individuals can host their own events.

Rivanna Area Queer Center (RAQC)

Did you know there's more than 1 million books in the Joburg CBD. Let's celebrate that.

Johannesburg, better known as Jozi or Joburg, is best showcased by the vibrant city centre at its heart. The area that residents refer to as “Town” is set apart by the combined bustling of hawkers, cross-continental traders, and white-collar office workers alike.

Between busy public transportation routes and the overall air of Afropolitan excellence, Town has something for everyone. This diverse and energetic part of the city is a prime showcase of the literary and artistic wonders that Joburg has to offer.

The Literary District runs on community support. We send thousands of books, new and used, for free to libraries across South Africa every year. We also work with community organisations that have literacy outreach programmes and donate books to their causes.

With more than 1 million books in the City Library and dozens of booksellers in the nearby blocks, our literary culture flows through the streets. We’re working with the Johannesburg Development Agency through its Our City, Our Block programme to highlight and expand this reading culture.
 
To start, that means keeping our streets clean. With the help of a grant from the Social Employment Fund, we have hired cleaners to help us keep the district looking refreshed.

Dozens of booksellers sell their wares in the LitDistrict. These booksellers provide easy access to books to the thousands of people in the city centre. We have fostered a relationship with these underground sellers, connecting them with publishers so that they can continue to provide the community with new books. We are working together as a neighbourhood to foster more of a reading culture that we hope will spread from our home to many others.

We are in the process of adopting the park that lies at the centre of the LitDistrict. The Library Gardens stretch out from the city library and is a popular gathering point for the community. We hope to turn this park into a literary hub by cleaning it up and filling it with books that are completely free to borrow and read.

We have adopted two outdoor township libraries – one in Alexandra and another in Soweto. We stock these libraries every month to ensure that these communities have access to an ever-changing and ever-growing selection of books. We plan to build more of these throughout Joburg, starting with Library Gardens.

With grants from the city’s Department of Community Development, we workshopped six storybooks in local languages. Three of these stories were accepted by Nal’ibali for translation into all 11 languages with free distribution, thanks to a grant from the Cadbury #InOurOwnWords campaign. See ‘The First Story Ever Told’ in isiXhosa here.

We have also worked on getting stories to print that have, up until now, only existed in oral tradition. In doing this, we hope to share South African stories further across the globe. 

Many South African books that would now be considered classics seem to have disappeared. Some were banned and never reprinted after the end of Apartheid, and others simply fell out the public consciousness but are taking on new resonance now. 

We have been working to publish new editions of such classics so that these stories can re-enter circulation.  We have reprinted a duology of H.I.E. Dhlomo’s ‘The Girl Who Killed to Save’ and ‘Valley of a Thousand Hills’. Dhlomo is a founding figure of South African literature whose work has become hard to come across – something that we are working to change. 

We host publishing workshops to help break down some of the barriers between writers’ ideas and books going to print. We also sell books from independent authors on consignment, helping their words reach readers.

We host Storytime Saturday every week, either at Bridge Books or around the corner at Ernest Oppenheimer Park. With this initiative, we hope to revitalise the art of oral narrative, and to give children a fun and enriching activity on the weekend. Our readers bring stories to life in all South African languages, depending on the week’s audience. We want the kids in the neighbourhood to know that kids like them can be on the covers of books, too.

We also work in collaboration with the Alliance Française. With monthly storytelling events, we support their mission of bringing South African cultures to French expats living in Joburg, encouraging them to introduce their children to more South African stories. Plenty of local children from our area come to listen, too, and to join in on the djembe drum circle. 

The LitDistrict is a part of the Johannesburg Inner City Walkable Network, which links neighbourhoods throughout the CBD to create a clean, safe, and welcoming environment for locals and visitors.
 
 In the LitDistrict, we are working to create a neighbourhood identity based on literature and community. Local kids stop by on their way home from school to do their homework and read together and young professionals hunker down together over coffee at Bridge Books. 
 
All in all, we want our home to feel more like a home – art on the walls, places to come together, books in hands.

African Book Trust

Empowering children to LEARN artistic skills, HEAL from trauma, EARN through their creativity to THRIVE at school & in life.

Faces Up Uganda (Faces Up) is a youth-led, community-based not-for-profit that serves young people (6-25 years), in and out of school, refugees, juveniles, and those with disabilities. Our current focus areas include Wakiso and Kampala districts, plus Nakivaale refugee settlement, in Isingiro district.

We serve young people like Mark. In 2019, Mark joined our program. His initial drawings were dark scenes of violence, death, and despair. We later learned he was a refugee from South Sudan, carrying trauma he couldn’t express in words. So we gave him what he needed: space, pencils, and presence. Over time, his drawings transformed from guns to flowers, from fire to birds in flight. His smile returned, his confidence grew, and his performance at school improved. Mark’s journey showed us that art is more than expression; it’s healing. 

That’s why our team is on a mission to extend arts education to all young people like Mark. 

Faces Up Uganda

Provides creative arts programs to young patients and families in children's hospitals across North Carolina.

Arts For Life is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting pediatric patients and families through arts education and engagement. By providing educational art programs, we enrich patients’ lives, nurture their minds and spirits, and encourage positive healthcare experiences for children and their families. Arts For Life helps children every day in three communities across North Carolina.

Arts For Life

Creating communities of compassionate care to transform difficult emotional experiences into opportunities for learning & growth.

Challenging or intense emotional experiences can be moments of profound insight, healing, and transformation. But they can also be disorienting, isolating, and overwhelming. In these moments, having access to compassionate support and culturally attuned care can make all the difference.

Zendo Project offers peer-based emotional support at events and provides educational resources to individuals, communities, and organizations. Our aim is to help people navigate complexity with greater resilience, care, and self-awareness. Through grounding, presence, and connection, we reduce potential harms and create space for learning, repair, and deeper relationships with self and others.

Supporters like you are essential to making this work possible. In a world where distress is often met with fear or force, our mission is to ensure that people in vulnerable states are met with compassion instead. Your contribution helps us continue to offer trauma-informed, non-judgmental care, and to create environments where all people can feel supported, seen, and safe—especially in moments when they need it most.

Please visit [https://zendoproject.org](https://zendoproject.org) to learn more about our mission.

Zendo Project: Peer Support and Compassionate Care

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We are a nonprofit, so instead of charging fees we rely on the generosity of donors like you.

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Associate Director of Development at MAPS (maps.org). Focusing on education, research, equity, and advocacy in the psychedelic movement. 

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