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<title>CANADA ANNOUNCES FIRST PROJECTS FUNDED UNDER CULTURAL INITIATIVES FOR WAR-AFFECTED CHILDREN PROGRAM</title>
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<p><font face="Arial"></font><font face="Arial" size="+1"></font><font face="Arial" size="+1">February 5, 1999 <em>(4:30 p.m. EST)</em> No. 21</font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Arial" size="+1">CANADA ANNOUNCES FIRST PROJECTS FUNDED UNDER CULTURAL INITIATIVES FOR WAR-AFFECTED
CHILDREN PROGRAM</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Senator Landon Pearson, on behalf of Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy, today announced the first 14 projects selected for funding under
the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade's (DFAIT) Cultural Initiatives for War-Affected Children program. </font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Senator Pearson, Minister Axworthy's special adviser on children's rights, made the announcement at the opening of the exhibition -- <em>Children of
the Wind </em>-- which is part of one of the 14 projects, an art therapy project called "Mapping Our World." The projects range from art therapy, to
sharing stories and experiences among Indigenous peoples in the Americas, to an intriguing floor game about landmines that can be used by the
new Youth Mine Action Ambassadors.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">The exhibition, at the McCord Museum in Montreal, presents images and stories by children from across Canada and from other countries,
including Bosnia, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Nicaragua, South Africa, Sri Lanka and Uganda about how they see themselves, how war affects their
lives, and their hopes for their future. DFAIT's funding will allow work to continue on the art therapy project and will help bring the plight of war-affected children to the attention of Canadians, including through more exhibitions like <em>Children of the Wind</em>.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">"The moving stories in this exhibition testify to how war harms children -- body, mind and spirit. At the same time, they also show the children's
resilience and their hope to build a better, more peaceful future," said Senator Pearson. "The organizers of this and other such projects are
Canada's cultural peacebuilders around the world."</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">The Cultural Initiatives for War-Affected Children fund was announced last summer by Minister Axworthy. The aim of the fund is to raise
awareness about children in armed conflict by promoting cultural activities at the international level.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Funding for this initiative was provided for in the February 1998 federal budget and is therefore built into the existing fiscal framework.</font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Arial">- 30 -</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">A list of approved projects is attached.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">DFAIT is encouraging Canada's arts and cultural community to submit new applications. The deadlines are May 14 for projects taking place in
summer or fall 1999, and October 15 for projects taking place in winter 1999-2000. Potential applicants are invited to call (613) 996-3649 or to
consult the DFAIT Internet site (http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/culture/children/menu-e.htm) for descriptions of the selected projects, the program
and the project selection criteria.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">For further information, media representatives may contact:</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Debora Brown</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">(613) 995-1851</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Annie Daoust</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">McCord Museum</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">(514) 398-7100, ex. 251</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Media Relations Office</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">(613) 995-1874</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">This document is also available on the Department's Internet site:</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca</font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Arial" size="+1">CULTURAL INITIATIVES FOR WAR-AFFECTED CHILDREN </font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Arial" size="+1">APPROVED PROJECTS</font><font face="Arial"></font></p>
<table width="100%">
<tr valign="TOP"><td><font face="Arial"><strong>NAME/ORGANIZATION</strong></font></td>
<td><font face="Arial"><strong>$ AMOUNT</strong></font></td>
<td><font face="Arial"><strong>OBJECTIVE/MEDIUM</strong></font></td></tr>
<tr valign="TOP"><td><font face="Arial">1. War Orphans/</font>
<p><font face="Arial">Felix Atencio-Gonzales</font></td>
<td><font face="Arial">10 950</font></td>
<td><font face="Arial">Awareness and therapy/ Radio, print media</font></td></tr>
<tr valign="TOP"><td><font face="Arial">2. Art Therapy/Canadian Centre for Victims of
Torture</font></td>
<td><font face="Arial">15 000</font></td>
<td><font face="Arial">Awareness and therapy, art
therapy/Workshops</font></td></tr>
<tr valign="TOP"><td><font face="Arial">3. Réseau de sensibilisation/ Comité de
Solidarité de Trois-Rivières</font></td>
<td><font face="Arial">20 000</font></td>
<td><font face="Arial">Awareness/Internet</font></td></tr>
<tr valign="TOP"><td><font face="Arial">4. Mapping Our World/ Cultural Connections</font></td>
<td><font face="Arial">20 000</font></td>
<td><font face="Arial">Awareness and art therapy/Exhibits</font></td></tr>
<tr valign="TOP"><td><font face="Arial">5. After the War/</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Frameline Productions</font></td>
<td><font face="Arial">19 795</font></td>
<td><font face="Arial">Awareness/Film for TV</font></td></tr>
<tr valign="TOP"><td><font face="Arial">6. Children's Solutions/The International
Children's Institute</font></td>
<td><font face="Arial">16 000</font></td>
<td><font face="Arial">Awareness and therapy/Internet</font></td></tr>
<tr valign="TOP"><td><font face="Arial">7. More than Bandages/</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Lowry Productions</font></td>
<td><font face="Arial">20 000</font></td>
<td><font face="Arial">Awareness and therapy/</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Print media, film</font></td></tr>
<tr valign="TOP"><td><font face="Arial">8. Simulation Floor Games/Mines Action
Canada</font></td>
<td><font face="Arial">9 170</font></td>
<td><font face="Arial">Awareness/Visual art</font></td></tr>
<tr valign="TOP"><td><font face="Arial">9. Rhythm of the Street/ Reelworld
Productions</font></td>
<td><font face="Arial">10 000</font></td>
<td><font face="Arial">Awareness and therapy/</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Promotional tour</font></td></tr>
<tr valign="TOP"><td><font face="Arial">10. Roots and Wings/ Subtonic Monks</font></td>
<td><font face="Arial">20 000</font></td>
<td><font face="Arial">Awareness and therapy/</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Performing arts</font></td></tr>
<tr valign="TOP"><td><font face="Arial">11. Dawn to Dusk/</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Vision/TV</font></td>
<td><font face="Arial">20 000</font></td>
<td><font face="Arial">Awareness and therapy/</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Film for TV</font></td></tr>
<tr valign="TOP"><td><font face="Arial">12. Rainbow Revolution/ MicroChronicle</font></td>
<td><font face="Arial">20 000</font></td>
<td><font face="Arial">Awareness and therapy/ Internet</font></td></tr>
<tr valign="TOP"><td><font face="Arial">13. Circus Ethiopia Harbourfront/Vancouver
International Children's Festival</font></td>
<td><font face="Arial">10 000</font></td>
<td><font face="Arial">Awareness/Performing arts</font></td></tr>
<tr valign="TOP"><td><font face="Arial">14. Drawing Out Our Memories/Cultural
Connections</font></td>
<td><font face="Arial">12 750</font></td>
<td><font face="Arial">Therapy/Visual art</font></td></tr>
<tr valign="TOP"><td><font face="Arial"><strong>TOTAL $</strong></font></td>
<td align="CENTER"><font face="Arial"><strong>223 665</strong></font></td>
<td align="CENTER"><font face="Arial"><strong></td></tr></table>
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