INDA CARES, INC.
Issue 1
1111
INDA CARES,
Inc.
DECEMBER 2011 -MARCH 2012
EDITION
VILLAGE HUT
IN THIS ISSUE
Angola: A Journey to the Past
by Keyla Silva
This summer was the most incredible
summer of my life. My mom gave me the
best possible gift she could ever offer-a trip
to Angola. This trip was no regular vacation,
it was an effort to locate family and find out
facts about our history, particularly my
grandmother.
The journey began on the very first day and is
still continuing until this day. The people I
met and the places that I visited will forever
be embedded in my mind and will stick with
me forever. This trip inspired me to take
action, to give a helping hand in assisting this
country with its growing process.
The country
Angola is a beautiful country with rich culture
that intertwines traditional and Portuguese
influences.
We visited the capital (Luanda) as well as
other provinces, its towns, and villages
including Uige, Sanza Pombo, Makela, etc.
Angola has a large amount of tribes and over
41 distinct tribal languages. The dilemma is
that although this country is very rich in its
resources with the most expensive capital in
the world-it is also one of the most poverty
stricken in Africa.
The children
Many of you have heard me speak about my
inspiration to start this organization but
others have not. It happened during my first
week in Angola when my cousin invited me
to his soccer game. My mother and I went
and I was very excited. As I approached the
location where this soccer game was being
held I realized we were in a garbage dump.
The smell was overwhelming and I felt a
sudden heaviness in my heart. This
experience was just one of many experiences
during my trip that made me want to make a
change.
Here in the U.S. many children and families
live in poverty as well as violent
neighborhoods however the extent of
poverty that takes place in Angola is extreme
and visible. I know that at any point if a child
in the U.S. wants to join a soccer team,
cheerleading squad, or baseball team they
have a center in their community where they
can do these things. The facilities may vary
in cleanliness, safety, and some may have
more than others but these children do have
somewhere to go. In Angola that is not the
case.
Cupcake & Wine Tasting
Fundraiser
Our very first fundraising event.
Page 2
Prevent Malaria Campaign
An ongoing project that deserves a lot of attention.
Page 3
INDA CARES, INC. | Issue 1
2
Cupcake & Wine
Tasting
by Keyla Silva
Inda Cares was founded and incorporated
th
November 11 , 2011. This date was
th
strategically chosen. November 11 is the
date that marks Angola’s independence from
Portugal. Angola was colonized by the
th
th
Portuguese from the 16 -19 century.
Angola finally gained their independence on
th
November 11 , 1975.
Our first fundraising event for Inda Cares was
th
on December 10 , 2011. We had about 22
people come and support and we were able
to raise $311. It was a small affair for close
family and friends and we exceeded our goal
of $100.
As an organization we are not yet tax exempt
so all of the money raised from this event
was used to pay for legal fees for our tax
exempt process. Being tax exempt allows
donors and supporter to write off their
We had strawberry, chocolate with
chocolate ganache, vanilla, and
chocolate with peanut butter filled
cupcakes.
donations on their taxes, so it is beneficial for
the organization as well as its supporters.
DONATIONS
Luckily Teresa Gloria donated homemade
cheese for this event and Palmira Oliveira, a
board member, donated wine. Thank you!
The event was held from 6-10 P.M. and the cover charge was $5 per person. The
organization was introduced to all the attendees; they were able to view the
website right from the laptop at the event. We gave out raffle tickets and the
winners received a certain dollar amount off from our next fundraising event.
Thank you to all those who supported us at our very first fundraising event!
INDA CARES, INC. | Issue 1
3
PREVENT MALARIA CAMPAIGN
Angolan flag.
PREVENT MALARIA CAMPAIGN
by Shamara McCall
Malaria is….
Prevent Malaria Outreach
Presentations at a local high
school (Hillside High School)
FAST FACTS
100
nets
We have enough money to purchase 100
nets.
200
more
needed
A common deadly disease caused by a
parasite that is passed from one human to
another by the bite of an infected female
mosquito at night. After the infection, the
parasite is injected into the blood stream and
begins to infect the red blood cells. The
parasite multiplies within the blood stream,
affecting more blood cells, causing blood
cells to burst.
Statistics
In 2008, between 709,000 and 1,003,000
people died from malaria, ninety percent of
those deaths occurred in Africa. One third of
all cases occur in children and every 60
seconds a child dies from malaria.
World Malaria Day
th
FOR MORE INFORMATION
World Malaria Day is April 25 , 2012. On this
day many organizations around the world
host programs that focus on the prevention
of this deadly disease. The Prevent Malaria
Campaign is still in affect and will continue to
be. Please help families in Angola, Africa by
donating to Inda Cares.
Each net runs from $5-$14.
HELP US FIGHT TO PREVENT MALARIA!
YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS
MAKE A DIFFERENCE
Inda Cares
This is why our non-profit organization, Inda
Cares took interest in malaria and the people
affected by it. The prevent Malaria Campaign
main goals are to inform people about this
disease, in the U.S. and abroad, and provide
them with mosquito nets to decrease the
amount of people affected by it. We would
like for people to become more aware and
educated on the dangers of malaria and what
countries are affected the most. Inda Cares is
working towards raising enough money to
distribute mosquito nets to at least 100
families in Angola, Africa by 2013. These
mosquito
nets offer
more than
70%
protection
and they can
last
anywhere
from 3-5
years.
Strides we have taken
Inda Cares has conducted 4 workshops in
health classes at Hillside High School so far,
which means we have reached out to 93
teenagers regarding malaria and our
campaign. We plan on continuing these
workshops until March 2013 and expanding
these workshops to ALL the schools in the
Hillside school district.
INDA CARES, INC.
Issue 1
1111
UNITY CLOTHING DRIVE
by: Keyla Silva
We have partnered with Reigner’s Ministry of
Hillside, NJ and Kizomba NYC to collect and
distribute clothes, shoes, bags, and coats to
various members of the African community
(diaspora). We have collected 15 bags to
st
date and will deliver them during the 1 week
of May.
AROUND TOWN
Reigner’s Ministry
We plan on continuing the clothing drive and
sending these clothes to countries such as
Haiti, Angola, Cameroon, and Nigeria.
It has truly been a pleasure working with
Reigner’s Ministry they are very nice and
warm and care about their community a lot.
If you would like to donate any items please
bring your clothes to 31 Coe Ave. Hillside, NJ.
We plan on collecting through the end of the
year.
Dine 4 Life Dinner Party
by Imari Kelling
On March 17, 2012 Inda cares had its first
fundraising event called Dine for life. This
event was created to raise money and inform
people about the Prevent Malaria Campaign
and Inda Cares as a whole. It was located in
Passaic, NJ at Chem studio. At this event
there were performers, prizes, food, music
and much more. There was a free raffle
where people won prizes such as free movie
tickets, gift cards, calendars, & professional
pictures. Paradise read a very powerful
poem that touched
everyone’s heart.
Followed by the poem
was a spectacular
singer (Catarina dos
Santos) and her
guitarist (Marcos).Her
Above* board members: Keyla Silva, Palmira
singing and music
Oliveira, Gisela Fialho, and Nanda Da Silva.
influenced by African,
Portuguese, and Brazilian styles of music put
all the guests in a state of relaxation. Inda
cares surpassed our $600 goal and raised
over $1000. Dine for life was a great success.
From the funds that were raised, $100 will go
towards our tax exemption process while the
remaining money will go towards our
campaign.
Ana Oliveira with her prize!
INDA CARES, INC. | Issue 1
5
Buffet line volunteers: Imani,
Princesa, and board member Danette
Kelling.
Above-Guests: Miguel Damiao, Ana
Damiao, Ana Camacho, and Maria Miguel.
Poet Paradise
Guitarist Marcos
INDA CARES, INC. | Issue 1
6
Our hopes for the future
by: Keyla Silva
Our next fundraising event is a bike tour and
will take place September 2012. We look
forward to seeing you, your family, and
friends at this joyous and fun-filled event!
Angola is quickly growing and expanding. It
must be very difficult to progress after a 27+
year civil war and for a country that just came
out of war just 10 years ago they are well on
their way.
My hope is to reduce poverty in the country
by starting with their youth. I want to build
an educational/cultural center that will
provide the youth with various programs
focusing on health, educational, recreational,
and interpersonal relations.
These programs/workshops will incorporate
their culture and practices with our ideas and
theories of how to help children succeed. I
believe that by getting the Angolan youth
involved in the decision making process it will
provide a source of empowerment. Through
our fundraising efforts, continuing education,
and dedication I believe we will be able to
achieve this goal and any other goal we set
ourselves to.
"What would
life be if we had
no courage to
attempt
anything?”
Authors: Keyla Silva (Founder & Executive Director)
Shamara McCall (Volunteer)
INDA
CARES, Inc.
Imari Kelling (Volunteer)
Editors: Gisela Fialho (Board member-International Correspondent)
Nanda Da Silva (Board member-Secretary)
Palmira Oliveira (Board member-Fundraising Chair & Photographer)
PO Box 5122
Hillside, NJ 07205