ABCD - What is it?

In 2007, Frank Smith, a retired secondary school visual arts teacher in Toronto and a well-known local artist, travelled to Tanzania as part of a Rotary International group, helping to rebuild and renovate schools and hospitals. At the same time Frank couldn’t help but notice the problems being faced by the local children of school age who in many cases were being cared for by relatives, having lost one or both parents to HIV/AIDS.

Frank returned to Tanzania in early 2008 with Rotarian Lynn Bird. Their aim was to get local children to create art that would describe their dreams for the future. Thirty children took part in the initial project in the Kilema and Marangu West area at the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro. In every case the child wanted to finish school and engage in jobs within their community. They wanted to be doctors, teachers, nurses, bus drivers, store owners and farmers. They all had dreams of helping themselves, their families and the community.

Following the inspiration of Frank Smith, Ken Wall introduced the concept to friends and colleagues in Australia, and through the Rotary Club of Templestowe, Melbourne, Australia, ABCD: Art Building Children’s Dreams (Australia) Inc. was created in late 2009.

The first Pacific Island project was conducted by Ken in Suva, Fiji, in early August 2009. Thirteen children in significantly at-risk and disadvantaged circumstances created beautiful pictures, showing similar dreams and aspirations to the children in Tanzania. The ABCD drawings, photographs and the children’s compelling, personal stories are combined as framed works of art and other articles which are made available to a wide range of supporters including individuals, schools, families, communities, local business and the larger corporations.

The ABCD: Art Building Children’s Dreams project is spreading. Our aim is to replicate the projects as far and as wide as possible, so that more and more children around the world can afford the education that could provide the key to their future – and the future of their families and communities.