Under the direction of teacher Sandra Nickeson, the young members of the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Foundation have developed a strong appreciation for art. And now these young artists are working to share their knowledge and helping to build the first art classroom in the village of Tambacounda, Senegal.
The members have painted three “Art Chairs” and will raffle them to raise money for the Senegal project. The young artists also have created books on the subject of hope and will use these pieces to begin an artistic exchange with the students in Senegal.
The Jackie Joyner-Kersee Foundation Kids Helping Kids project goal is to raise $900 to be used for constructing the classroom and purchasing art supplies.
Nickeson will present the contribution to the village of Tambacounda next month when she travels to Senegal to participate in an international artist exchange. She is one of 50 artists from 16 countries around the world to take part in the event.
“Ms. Nickeson has been an exceptional instructor and true inspiration to our members,” said Jackie Joyner-Kersee, chairperson and president of the Foundation. “Now our young artists have an opportunity to use their talent to help children in another part of the world.”
Raffle tickets for the chairs sell for $10 each and are available until December 3. The tickets can be purchased at the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Center, 101 Jackie Joyner-Kersee Circle, East St. Louis, IL 62204 or by mailing full payment and a stamped, self-addressed envelope to the same address. Only 30 tickets will be sold for each chair.
Call (618) 274-5437 for additional information.
