Let’s Get Ready with Cedar Valley Publishing

At the beginning of August, I featured a young author and artist, Keenan Dietiker who was making a difference in his world and in the world around him.

Today, I want to talk to you, from my heart, about Roland Ibanda from Uganda.  He is being featured for September on D.B. Pacini’s A Starry Night Productions website, which you can find here.

In August, 2008, D. B. Pacini verified Roland’s school, medical, and church records. He received excellent recommendations from his references. They all say he is a fine young man living in hard circumstances.  Roland’s dream is to someday come to America and attend college.

At the tender age of eight Roland began working numerous jobs to help support his disabled mother and siblings. His mother had sustained extensive injuries from an attack by robbers. In spite of his enormous responsibilities, Roland was a successful student. He completed secondary school and qualified for advanced level high school education in Uganda. Students in Uganda must pay for their high school education. Roland helped pay his tuition by working at the high school doing maintenance cleaning.

Roland recently emailed me, and I’d like to share a little of his email with you:

Thanks so much for all your concern, efforts and the endless love you have towards me and my family, I greatly appreciate you and I always wish you for the best together with your family.  I am still searching for a family, organization, company or an individual to invite me to the States make sales of my Art and Stories & later join College to further my studies but the process is still so hard so please keep me in prayers.

Here is a beautiful piece of Roland’s artwork:

For More information about Roland, his art and writing, please visit http://www.astarrynightproductions.com/creative/pages/ibanda.htm

Let’s Get Ready to Help Roland realize his dream of coming to America to attend college - and to be able to grow his art and writing — through love.

I love to hear stories of young people trying to make a difference.  That’s why, when I received an email from D.B. Pacini and the Starry Night Product Staff about young Keenan, I knew I wanted to share some of his youthful wonderment with you.

Keenan has recently published his first book of poetry and art, entitled Voices of the Soul.  The profits from this book will be donated to Living Compassion’s Africa Vulnerable Children’s Project.

You can read more about Keenan here:  http://www.astarrynightproductions.com/loose_end/pages/resources.htm

And purchase his book here:  http://www.lulu.com/content/2064489

A note from A Starry Night Productions says,

The staff and creative artists associated with A Starry Night Productions feel that young creative artists like Keenan Dietiker greatly impact and make a positive affect on the world. We encourage you to purchase “Voices of the Soul,” and we have selected Dietiker to be our “Featured for Summer, 2008 Generous Person” because of his remarkable gift to the Living Compassion’s Africa Vulnerable Children’s Project. He is the youngest creative artist we’ve ever featured.

Did I mention that Keenan was special?  Click here to see his website, and read how special he really is!

Keenan - I’d like to extend a heartfelt WAY TO GO from myself and Cedar Valley Publishing!  You are truly an inspiration to all of us!