Guatemala Stove Project Fundraising Dance Saturday, November 21
Kobo Town Comes To Perth
Kobo Town, an internationally acclaimed calypso, roots reggae band led by Trinidadian/Canadian Drew Gonsalves is the feature act at this year’s Guatemala Stove Project benefit dance. Named for the historic neighbourhood in Port-of-Spain where calypso was born, Kobo Town explores the rich lyrical tradition and compelling rhythms of calypso while creating contemporary relevance by addressing the pressing concerns of our time.
Also included in the musical mix, Guthrie House, the much-loved, Perth-based, folk-rock band featuring Dave Balfour, Marty Crapper, Steve Hanna, Melanie Morris and Justin Purvis will be performing their combination of original material and interpretations of classic rock, pop, jazz, folk and blues tunes. We guarantee that everyone will be dancing. Local musical phenom Conlan Flynn and his Excellent Band will open the show at the Perth Legion on Saturday, November 21 as part of the Guatemala Stove Project’s major fundraiser of the year. Doors open at 7:00 P.M.
The annual dance features the sale of an assortment of beautiful Guatemalan handicrafts and Guatemalan-themed art from local artist Monika Seidenbusch and students at St. John’s Catholic High School as well as hand-made items from local artists and artisans. Gift baskets donated by local merchants will be prizes to be won during the evening. The aim of this event is to raise $5,000 for impoverished families living in the Western Highlands of Guatemala.
Now entering its eleventh year, this volunteer-based organization is continuing its efforts to raise funds for the construction of masonry cook stoves for Mayan families and, in turn, improve the overall health of recipient families and preserve the countries’ forests. By burning more efficiently than the traditional three-stone open fires the stoves help to eliminate indoor smoke, thus increasing a family’s life expectancy by many years. Since 1999 the Guatemala Stove Project volunteers and Guatemalan masons have built over 4,000 stoves and aided in sustainable development projects in over a dozen communities. In 2008 the G.S.P. retrofitted a school bus as a mobile medical clinic servicing some of the country’s most remote rural areas and providing access to vital healthcare services. In 2009 the G.S.P. provided funding for the building of a school in the remote village of Panimaquim and is currently coordinating the efforts of Lanark County students to raise funds for a nutrition program for those students.
If you would like to show your support for the Guatemala Stove Project please bring your dancing shoes to the Perth Legion for this fantastic, licensed fundraising event! Tickets are available at Shadowfax or at the door and cost $15 for adults or $10 for students. For more information please call 613-264-2739 or visit our website at www.guatemalastoveproject.org .