Winners - Ideas Happen 2003

Community

For as long as I can remember, I have been driven by three passions: artistic expression, helping people in need, and seeing the world. If I were to be given $25,000 I could weave all three of these passions into one beautiful dream that would not only change my life, but the lives of many needy children. I would spend a portion of the money just getting myself to Africa. With me I would bring as many art supplies as I could possibly carry: stacks and stacks of paper, watercolors, paints, crayons—anything. I would visit impoverished villages south of the Sahara, where I would donate the supplies to children, in exchange for images of their own most passionate dreams. I would ask them to draw or paint their dreams for me. I would then collect these children’s dreams, leaving the art supplies with them because artistic expression is such a valuable thing for any child to develop. I would bring my collection back home, along with photographs and documentation, and use the rest of the money to publish and promote a book that I would call something like “Africa Dreams.” Every cent of profit would go right back to those villages in Africa, to those children who shared with me their dreams. I would give them food and medical supplies, donate to hospitals and pre-existing projects working to prevent AIDS. And maybe I could make some of their dreams come true, too.