CARIBBEAN HOLIDAY FUNDRAISER FOR ATEG STARTS WITH GLOBAL CITIZENSHIP MUSIC FESTIVAL

A Caribbean Holiday on the beautiful island of St. Lucia has been offered as a special fundraiser for Arts To End Genocide (ATEG) and tickets will be available at the Second Annual Global Citizenship Music Festival Saturday, May 17, 2025, from 3:00 to 8:00 pm at Union Point Park. This unique music and dance event is presented as a free gift to our community by Arts To End Genocide in partnership with Faith Connection and The Atlantic Dance Theatre. The Festival will be held light rain or shine, and those attending should plan to bring their own seating or blankets. Food trucks will be available at the event.

“The Balenbouche Estate in St. Lucia has generously offered a seven-night stay at their beautiful plantation as a special fundraiser to support ATEG’s programs in Bamako, Mali, West Africa,” said Mitch Lewis, the founder of this New Bern based non-profit. “We will be offering tickets at $20 during the Global Citizenship Music Festival for a drawing that will take place on July 25,” he explained. Breakfast is included with the stay for a package value of $2,000. The winner will be responsible for airfare and ground transportation. Tickets are also available online at www.artstoendgenocide.org or with the QR code provided.

The historical Balenbouche Estate is a family home, retreat venue, and organic farm in St. Lucia within a 70-acre nature heritage site adjoining two secluded beaches. Six individual and charming cottages are available for guests to enjoy being close to nature while being cooled by tropical breezes. A preview of this idyllic compound is available on their website at www.balenbouche.com

The Global Citizenship Music Festival will feature performances by musicians from cultures represented in our community and will share songs from Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Included in this year’s Festival are Los Sabrosos Del Son (Latin), Solo (West Africa music & dance lessons), Unknown Tongues (Zydeco & dance), K’nyaw (Burmese music & dance), and Soulful Sisters (Hindu dancers). A community choir, comprised of singers from many local church choirs, will close the program with familiar songs that remind us of our shared experiences as human beings in a connected world. Valentina Wilson of WCTI-TV 12 will serve as the program emcee this year.

Although the Second Annual Global Citizenship Music Festival is offered free to the community, ATEG hopes for the continued support of the generous citizens to make voluntary (or monthly) donations at https://www.artstoendgenocide.org or at the event on May 17. “100% of all money raised goes directly to the programs serving the women and children in the IDP camps in Mali,” said Deedra Durocher, a member of the ATEG Board of Directors. “With the support of our community to provide basic food and health services to these vulnerable people, we are showing there are caring people in the United States who have not abandoned them.”