Checklist:

As we are getting closer to conducting workshops and submitting tiles, don’t forget to:

- Organizing your workshop space:

You now know the process of conducting the workshop. What about space? If you already know the number of people participating in your workshop, organize a space that is spacious enough! Remember this is an arts project so you want to have enough light and space for people to access and utilize crafts and materials and be creative!.

If you have good weather why not organize the event outside, in a garden, at a park? If it’s a public park please do not forget to double check with the authorities about conducting such an event.

How about classrooms, gyms, community centers, conference rooms of companies, …Talk to your community leaders if you do not have the space in your organization. Think of alternative spaces…

- Getting support for your workshop:

Yes, you will need material to create the tiles. If you are a small group perhaps you can ask a ‘house and garden improvement shop’ to sponsor you the wood. If you have tough time finding wood then try re-cycled card boards. Check grocery stores who maybe throwing away boxes which may be your treasure to create the tiles. Think of any re-cycled material, your personal collections, nature pieces you may want to utilize in your works.

How about Information and Knowledge Sharing:

Let’s not forget the main objective of the project: to raise awareness on HIV/AIDs, about the vulnerability of children and youth, and to provide them with a dynamic means for self-advocacy and self-expression. Contact local HIV/AIDs experts/specialists in your community and ask if someone would be interested to give a short, educative speech on HIV/AIDs prevention. Remember this is a voluntary project, so any help from community members, experts from hospitals, academics, NGOs, activists…would be greatly appreciated.

What about ‘the stomach’ and ‘ears’?

The workshop will last minimum 3 hours. You need some food and drinks for kids and elders? Again ask participants to chip in some home-made cooking, small finger foods…Try to make the event as participatory, fun, and lively as possible. Ask someone to bring a radio/cassette player to play along music if there is any interest.

- Promoting your workshop:

Don’t forget to contact your local newspaper, magazines, radio and TV. See if you can manage to get editorials…This is a project that you want to share and inspire others as well to join. Make your voice heard! Appoint a person to help you in communication, if you need. Send informative/invitational emails to schools, health centers/clinics in your community. Here is a brief list on items to write a good press release:

Press Release Checklist:

• Organization Letterhead, Name, Address, Phone Number, Web Address [if any]
• PRESS RELEASE in all caps
• Contact Person's Name
• Immediate Release or Release Date(all caps)
• HEADLINE or TITLE in BOLD/CAPS
• BODY-Date / City-who,what,when,where and why.
• Attractive Text [This paragraph explains in detail the tile project; who cares; why you should care; where one can find it; when it will happen. Also, included in this'informative' paragraph is generally a quote that gives the release a personal touch. Try to add some quotes, especially those stated by the organizers. ]
• Sum it up... [summation of the release and further information on your organization with the contact information clearly spelled out.]
• Basic Font, Double Spaced, Page Numbers...
  

- Getting support for shipment:

The tiles that you are creating will be gathered to create murals in key international sites to advocate the cause: The Global Fund To Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (confirmed); at a children's pediatric AIDS center in South Africa; and in India.

In order to send the tiles you create in your workshops, do contact a local postal, cargo company if they can in-kindly donate the shipment! If you have trouble getting any sponsorships from cargo/shipment companies try companies who do international business - export/import. They may help you in sending the ‘little tile box’ to the mural creation site!

Other options:

If you still don’t find any sponsors, try to create the tiles in cardboards rather than woods, so that the weight becomes less. Should there be other postal challenges, take digital photos of your tiles, e-mail the images to Lars, and create your own mural in your community. Seek a location to showcase and/or partners who may be interested in adopting your mural for exhibition…a school, entrance of a community center, corporations’ conference rooms, pediatric sections of hospitals, art galleries, foyer of opera/arts/culture centers…etc.

Should you need further assistance or have questions please feel to contact Lars.Do keep a diary of your project, take pictures of your workshop, and send any material to keep us updated on your accomplishments.Millions of thanks for your involvement in the peace tile project and your commitment to advocate the World Aids Day with us.