Unheard Voice

On Dec 5th, Drishtipat Chicago will host its second annual “An evening of art, an evening of hope: an evening for Drishtipat”, a silent auction of contemporary Bangladeshi art and fundraiser to benefit our Child Domestic Workers initiative. It will be a fun evening and a great way to raise money for children who work as domestic help in Bangladesh.

You can view Chicago DP site to learn more and view the paintings at http://www.drishtipat.org/chicago/ 

We hope you can attend if you are in the Chicago area, and please consider this program for your year end contributions. If you cannot attend but are interested in bidding on the art, there is an online bid option.

Please also forward to your friends!

An evening of art, an evening of hope: an evening for Drishtipat

Please join Drishtipat for an evening of contemporary South Asian art to be auctioned in support of our programs to help child domestic workers in Bangladesh.
Featuring leading Bangladeshi Painter Jamal Ahmed

EVENT CO-CHAIRS: Dr. Naila Ahmed, Northeast Nephrology Assoc; Nancy Ali, Boys & Girls Club of America; Mohammad Elahi, Andes Capital; Habib Enayetullah, Hilton Hotels; Arshia & Jafer Hasnain; Dr. Iqbal Hussain, Asian Tiger Capital Partners; Annie & Muhit Rahman; Dr. Nabeela Rasheed, McAndrews, Held & Malloy; Prem Sharma, IndoAmerican Heritage Museum

SPECIAL GUEST Madhuvanti Ghose; The Art Institute of Chicago

GALLERY SPONSORS: Gallery Chitrak, Dhaka; Dhaka Art Gallery; Robert Wayner/Black Walnut Gallery, Chicago

“An evening of art, an evening of hope: an evening for Drishtipat” is an opportunity to view and purchase artwork from some of Bangladesh’s leading and upcoming contemporary artists. Carefully curated, the exhibition and auction will be an enjoyable view into the wonderful arts and culture of South Asia.

One of Bangladesh’s leading artists, Jamal Ahmed has exhibited at home and internationally for three decades. He works with oil pastels, acrylics and charcoal as his favorite media, his works are realistic yet modern, and his simple compositions evoke the traditional style of Bengali art.

This intimate event will be attended by the community’s corporate, community and philanthropic leaders. It will be a chance to experience Bangladesh through its arts, meet eminent Bangladeshi artist Jamal Ahmed, mingle with Chicago’s vibrant South Asian community, enjoy each other’s company and celebrate in the knowledge that your support is having a positive impact on children who deserve a much better chance in life.

We are honored to have as a Guest Speaker Madhuvanti Ghose, the Alsdorf Associate Curator of Indian, Southeast Asian, Himalayan and Islamic Art at The Art Institute of Chicago.

We will also feature works from several other artists such as Nisar Hossain, Abdus Shakoor, Ranjit Das, Kanak Chapa Chakma, as well as Chicago’s own Beena John Meledathu!

The evening will also be an opportunity for us to recognize Jamal Ahmed’s tireless support of Drishtipat’s causes, as well as that of many of our local Chicago friends and supporters. Along with a silent auction of the artwork, we will be raffling away some delightful prizes.
 
 
Drishtipat’s projects have ranged from supporting minority rights and religious tolerance to the current program on Child Domestic Workers (http://drishtipat.org/cdw/). We provide education and training for child workers, advocate for their rights and teach their employers better practices. Every $10K helps us reach  300 employers and change the lives of 500 child workers!  Thank you for your commitment to help Drishtipat’s work to support child domestic workers in Bangladesh.
 
Saturday, December 5, 2009
7:00 — 10:00 pm
Black Walnut Gallery
220 N. Aberdeen
Chicago, Illinois 60607
 
Tickets are $30 per person. Invitation includes refreshments and hors d’oeuvres. Please purchase tickets at www.drishtipat.org/chicago
or make all checks payable to Drishtipat & mail to:  Drishtipat, c/o Shafohi Alamgir, 2728 N. Hampden Ct., Unit 706, Chicago, IL 60614
If you are unable to attend but want to make a tax deductible donation, please mail checks to the address above.
 
 For more information please contact:
rafiq@drishtipat.org, 312-404-3329 or
nashmeen@drishtipat.org, 312-929-8655

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SUPPORT THE CHILD DOMESTIC WORKERS INITIATIVE

A 2006 UNICEF study estimates 400,000 children ages 6-17 work as domestic help in Bangladesh, while other sources estimate the number is as high as 2 million. 132,000 live and work in Dhaka city, and our programs are only able to reach less than 5% of those children.  Drishtipat provides education and training for child workers, advocates for their rights and teaches their employers better practices. Every $10K helps us reach 300 employers and change the lives of 500 child workers!

This year, our initial investment of $10,000 has helped to
 Support an additional 500 child workers at our partner ASK’s Drop-in-Centers for CDW education and training
 Expand community outreach programs from 3 to 6 Bangla middle schools to reach the families of 300 CDW employers
 Reach our target audience with blog, newspaper and public service announcements in an effort to change attitudes towards child labor
Our goal for 2010 is to raise $50,000 and expand our services for child domestic workers in Bangladesh. With these funds we will
 Reach 100,000 families via public service announcements on best practices, TV talk shows, school debates
 Expand educational programs by 15 additional middle class Bangla schools, training 1500 teenagers and their families on simple yet impactful ways to improve conditions for their domestic workers
 Directly support an additional 2500 child workers trained in Drishtipat-sponsored Drop-In Centers in Dhaka.
All net proceeds will support ASK and other CDW related initiatives in Bangladesh.
Social development is not charity. It’s an investment. Please join us and help make these amazing transformations possible.

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I WANT TO MAKE A COMMITMENT:

$2,500 JAMAL AHMED SPONSOR
 Official designation as a Jamal Ahmed Sponsor on all marketing and promotional materials
 Recognition during event
 Prominent full page ad in Program Book
 Prominent Corporate signage at the event
 Brand placement on Drishtipat event and CDW websites
 Opportunity to provide a signature gift with your company name and logo
 Category exclusivity
 Entrance for 8 guests

$1500 MUGHAL GALLERY SPONSOR
 Named sponsor for each gallery wall
 Display corporate logo on gallery wall
 Logo presence in all marketing and collateral materials
 Recognition during event
 Ad in the Program Book
 Brand placement on Drishtipat event and CDW websites
 Entrance for 6 guests

$1000 MUSLIN SILK SPONSOR
 Logo presence in all marketing and collateral materials
 Recognition during event
 Ad in the Program Book
 Brand placement on Drishtipat event and CDW websites
 Corporate logo and name placement at event
 Entrance for 4 guests

$500 DRISHTIPAT FRIEND
 Recognition on Drishtipat event website
 Recognition in the Program Book
 Entrance for 2 guests

For more information please contact:
Rafiq Ahmed at 312.404.3329 or Rashed Din at 312.376.4506