Art in All of Us

Overview

Art in All of Us (SM) (AiA) is a not for profit organization based in Belgium and the USA (501(c)(3)) that promotes tolerance through creative cultural exchange activities throughout the 192 UN listed countries, using Art. Inspiring children around the world is part of our Mission.

Mission

Our Mission is to inspire the children across borders to build a tolerant world for tomorrow. We hope to develop creativity, curiosity and artistic sensitivities of the children in the 192 UN listed countries by letting them discover the world of poetry, drawing and photography. By giving them a voice, children are empowered to express their feelings, build their self-esteem, and create a more positive future.

Our Vision is to educate through Art, and promote cross boundaries multicultural understandings, through exchanges, partnership, and inspiring Global Citizenship. Through Art as their tool, children and, in turn, adults will be able to gain knowledge of cultural similarities and differences, and to embrace the “unknown” with the tolerance, understanding and curiosity. We believe in the power of Art to transform lives.

Program

1. The AiA Pen Pal Program promotes artistic communication between children on different continents as well as from neighbouring countries. The program aims to develop and exchange artistic expression between children across the world.
2. The AiA World Art Book Program presents in a book each and every one of the 192 UN-listed countries through a photograph, as well as a poem and a drawing composed by a child.
3. The AiA Awareness Program introduces poetry and photography during visits into schools by promoting multicultural exchanges through interactive artistic activities.

The Mission of the AiA Pen Pal Program is to promote artistic communication and exchanges between children on different continents or children from neighbouring countries, and to develop the exchange of artistic expression between children across the world.
Today, we have set up a network of schools around the world, involved in a Pen Pal Program. This program aims to make the children responsible for their personal development. Indeed, this program gives them the tools to communicate and learn from other children and from other cultures.
Our Vision is to educate through art and to promote across bounders multicultural understanding and exchange. Indeed, we are convinced that through our photographs, children’s rhymes and drawings, we will share and learn about everyone’s culture and everyone’s wish for happiness. The exchange and communication of children’s artwork will enable everyone to better understand and to welcome our similarities and differences on a worldwide scale.

The AiA World Art Book Program will present in one book a single portrait of a resident from every one of the 192 UN-listed countries, in the form of a photograph, as well as a drawing and a poetry done by a local child from that country.

Through our photographs, the children’s drawings and their poetry, we intend to emphasize both people’ similarities and differences worldwide. Indeed, in every country on the planet, we can find children drawing, smiling, and playing, each one giving us hope and reliance on the future, using their universal way of communicating.

With the AiA Awareness Program, the Art in All of Us(SM) team introduces drawing, poetry and photography during their visits to schools around the world.
The team also conducts interactive artistic activities with the children presenting them other countries, to awaken awareness of other cultures worldwide.

Impact

1. Impact of the AiA Awareness Program:
Access to new means of expression
Opportunity to express themselves and exert their creativity
Allow them to speak and think about their culture and what it represents
Awakening of their curiosity; opening a window on the world through pictures and direct communication
2. Impact of the AiA Art Pen Pal Program:
Testimonials of participating teachers
“Since finding Art in All of Us, it has really changed my teaching experience. I feel I have been able to enhance not only my students art education, but their lives. We've made some wonderful connections and have met some amazing people, from teachers, to students, to the founders of AiA. It's inspiring to be part of a global community who fosters the best not only in students and teachers. . . but humanity in general. I thank Art in All of Us for opening up a whole new world to me and my students! ” (Teacher, Côte d’Ivoire)
The reception of the artworks from the pals have brought in every participating school happiness, and a feeling of fulfillment, as well as many questions … which will introduce new and interesting exchanges for 2007. Teacher, Nepal)
Since the students don’t communicate directly with their pals, they have to learn to pass a strong and precise message in their art works, ever challenging their creativity and imagination. Indeed, one of the Canadian drawings had the following legend : «Don’t walk ahead of me, I may not follow; don’t walk behind me, I may not lead you ; walk beside me, so that we can be friends»

Chief Executive

Anthony Asael

Chief Executive Profile

Anthony Asael, President, is the founder and general coordinator of AiA. Having travelled throughout the world and met different cultures, Anthony aims at building more tolerance through ARTistic communication. He wants AiA to be the international platform of art exchanges among children from all the countries of the world. A graduate of Solvay Business School in Belgium, he held management positions at various IT and telecommunication companies. He?s been dedicating 100% of his time to the nonprofit sector since 2005, when he co-founded AiA with his partner Stephanie Rabemiafara.

Board

Stephanie Rabemiafara VP - Treasurer (co-founder)
Regis Verschueren VP Secretary
Phil Micali Director - America
Sybille Smets Director - Belgium
Lisa Tucci Director - Europe
Raphael Guilbert Director - Europe

Countries of Operation

United States