Short Summary

I believe that art is how we really connect to, process and understand our world, each other, our communities, our learning, our living, our dying; art has the power to make us think and make us invest emotionally, and my Masters degree is in Theatre, Education, and Social Change (there's a shocker, right?). I have tacked a longer bio onto the end, if you'd like to know more about me, and you could also go to my website http://shearwaterproductions.com if you would like to.

My Campaign:  This year, I have the honor of returning to Afghanistan with one of the board members of Afghan Friends Network  (http://afghanfriends.net), a nonprofit delivering sustainable programs in education and cultural exchange that nurture potential, promote dignity, and support bold steps in Afghanistan. We will also meet with key stakeholders to learn what's needed next, and what we can do from North America as well. In addition, as the Artist-in-Residence at SUNY's Empire State College, I am working with the Center for Distance Learning and the Graduate Studies and Community Learning programs to develop opportunities for Afghan women to have access to university studies not available to them in Afghanistan.

I am also honored with the opportunity of doing some work with the Mobile Mini Circus for Children! YAY! They are incredible and inspiring, and you can learn more about them here: http://www.afghanmmcc.org

Video footage from the trip in 2002 is from the film made of that trip, "Clown in Kabul" by Stefano Moser, and photos of that journey are mostly by Lorenzo Franzi, who gave me permission to use his pictures for educational and outreach purposes.

What I Need & What You Get

Costs for 10-12 day trip: 

Plane fare. Currently listed at just over $2,500 to $4000, depending on the airline and availability.

Lodging. Eva Vander Giessen estimates $800 - $1000.

Local Transportation. Estimated at $15/day, so $150 - $180.

VISA. $160

Vaccinations and Vaccination Visit. $275

Food. $300

Tips. $150

Travel Insurance. $175

Gifts and Supplies (for Circus Children and Educators). $250

If I don't reach my whole goal, I will continue to pursue avenues for funding. I am determined to go.

PERKS

Everybody who even contributes a like or a hug will get an emailed digital photo signed by some of the people I will be working with. Indiegogo wouldn't let me write that in, so I wrote $1.

People who contribute $10-$25 will get a digital copy of a photo/writing journal that will include words and pix by Afghans.

People who contribute $25-$50 will also receive a print of the picture of their choice.

People who contribute $50-$150 will also receive a digital copy of the multi-media (including audio and video portions) journal created by people I will be working with and myself.

People who contribute $150-$250 will also receive a dvd of the multi-media journal that ALSO includes special features!!!!

People who contribute more than $250 --- I will also make you a mask, and send you chocolate!

The Impact

I have had the opportunity to participate in other projects overseas, especially in impoverished areas, that focused on healing, education, and community. It has been my experience that in addition to the concrete actions and accomplishments, the impact of the support itself is powerful. Sometimes, having people come and be deeply emotionally invested in your project and work to help you accomplish your goals nourishes the soul so that you can keep fighting the good fight, so to speak.  I have also learned that when I return home and share with students, educators, community members and so on, I foster a change in perspective. One more small grain of peace.

Other Ways You Can Help

Please share, forward, like....whatever happens, at least we've spent a moment rooting for these women and educators!

• Don't forget to use the Indiegogo share tools!

Many many thanks to Thomas Hoebbel Video-Photo, who has already helped by putting together my video, http://www.youtube.com/user/TomHoebbel

And that’s all there is to it.

REALLY LONG BIO, if you are interested

A professional performer, playwright, and teaching artist for the past 25 years, Holly particularly enjoys creating and performing original work: she creates new work annually with physical theatre company Kakeru, toured VOICES/lives with co-creator and performer Pete Rush, and starred in the Off-Broadway production The Oral Tradition, written with collaborator David A. Miller from Roundabout Theatre.Other favorites include Love, Loss and What I Wore, My Father's Dragon, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Macbeth, Further Adventures of Clown, NYC/CNY tour of VOICES/lives, The Oral Tradition Off –Broadway, Richard III in Kynge’s Games, Summers at Rock’s Edge at the Kitchen Theatre, Netta (leading lady) in the film In the Bag, and audiobooks with Audible Inc and Full Cast Audio. She also loves Red Nose work, which takes her to lots of places on planet earth! She is the primary writer for Mystery & Adventure Agency, and her plays are performed across NYS. Http://shearwaterproductions.com

Holly Adams' work as an artist in residence for schools and universities links academic and arts curricula, as well as addressing social and cultural challenges. Holly taught in Connecticut's "Fame School", the Greater Hartford Academy of Performing Arts, before moving to Tompkins County. She has since been an artist in residence for 15 years of NYSCA's Empire State Partnership programs, and has taught at colleges, performing arts schools, and k-12 schools across the state. Holly has given professional development workshops in conjunction with NYS Alliance for Arts Education, NYS Council on the Arts, the Community Arts Partnership, NYS Theatre Education Association, in British Columbia, and for various theater companies. She was Assistant Director and Director of the Performance Department of the Mental Health Association of the Southern Tier for eight years. Holly’s dedication to arts as healing fuels her work as a Clown Therapist and consultant/trainer for Clown Therapy programs around the world.

Holly is a graduate of the Dell 'Arte School of Physical Theater, and holds a Masters degree in Theatre, Education, and Social Change. She is also the 2009-2010 recipient of the Association of Teaching Artist’s Teaching Artist Service to the Field Award.