News/Press Releases

Patricia will be participating in an event that UNESCO is currently preparing in close cooperation with Panasonic .

This event is organized within the framework of the agreement signed between UNESCO and Panasonic on 17 May 2011. Further to this agreement, Panasonic is implementing an education project entitled “The Kids School programme”. This Project is initiated in cooperation with the UNESCO’s World Heritage Center .

The Project “The Kids School programme” involves school children aged 8-11 from different regions of the world with the aim of giving them an insight of what World Heritage preservation means in a context of ecological challenges. School classes are gathered at the premises of a site where heritage and ecological behaviour are discussed in a playful way. One of the activities of the programme is to fill an “Eco Picture Diary” where children write down and draw the activities they have done during the day and how they plan to contribute to protect their environment. With this diary, the children take part in a contest where the best illustrations are rewarded on the occasion of a ceremony.

The official ceremony to announce the results of this contest will take place at UNESCO HQ in Paris ,France on February 8th 2012.

Patricia Velasquez , in her capacity as a UNESCO Artist for Peace, will be a member of the Jury that will be composed on the occasion of this contest.

Patricia Velasquez competes on ‘Celebrity Apprentice’

Venezuelan actress and model Patricia Velasquez, who played Anck-Su-Namun in the 1999 film “The Mummy” is one of the 18 contestants on the upcoming season of Donald Trump’s “Celebrity Apprentice”.

“I am convinced that the Latinos who see this series will feel very proud,” Velasquez said.

“Of course each one of the 18 participants will do everything it takes to win, that’s what it’s about, but there are many ways to compete. Personally, I take on this challenge with one thing in my head and it’s that I will never go beyond the limits of human respect,” Velasquez said.

She said her participation in “Celebrity Apprentice” was a chance to publicise the work of Wayuu Taya Foundation, the non-profit organisation she launched 10 years ago to aid the Wayuu, a Venezuelan indigenous group.

Patricia will be in this season Celebrity Apprentice /Patricia estara en esta temporada de Celebrity Apprentice
http://www.nbc.com/the-apprentice/candidates/patricia-velasquez/

GLOBAL FASHION
Patricia Velasquez Says The "Tribal" Trend Helped her Charity
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Wayuu Taya Foundation
If one thing is certain this spring, it's that tribal prints and globally-inspired accessories are here to stay. But while most designers seek to imitate or reinterpret an "ethnic" print or product, others have been offering up the real deal, so to speak. One such company is The Wayuu Taya Foundation, a nonprofit organization based out of Venezuela whose famous "Susu" bags, hand-woven by the women of the impoverished Wayuu community, have been making a splash on New York City sidewalks.
Founder Patricia Velasquez, whose lovely mug might be familiar after her decades-long acting and modeling career, started the group nearly ten years ago with intent to aid the suffering Wayuu community by providing basic health services, school houses and even art programs to children and families. Those stylish Susu bags are only one aspect of the organization's tremendous charity efforts, which have come to benefit struggling communities not only in Venezuela, but victims of the devastating Haiti quake.
For those who might not know, can you explain who the Wayúu are?
The Wayúu, or the Guajiros, are an indigenous group of over 450,000 people [living in] the Guajira Peninsula of northern Colombia and northwest Venezuela. They are among the few Latin American ethnic groups that have been able to avoid European acculturation over the centuries.

Do you have a personal connection to the Wayúu?
Yes, I am part Wayúu. My mother comes from this community.
Was there a specific experience or moment that inspired you to start The Wayuu Taya Foundation?
The idea of the foundation was born 9 years ago when some friends and I donated a pump to draw water to the community Wayúu. After seeing the positive impact in the community, we established the foundation and its programs.
What is central mission or purpose of the Wayuu Taya Foundation?
Our mission is to help improve the lives of Latin-American indigenous people while maintaining and respecting their traditions, culture and beliefs.

How has the foundation changed, grown or evolved since its beginnings in 2002?
We started out very small, first only working with the Wayúu. Recently we expanded our work to the Amazon, supporting health care, income generation and education initiatives benefiting members of the Jivi, Yanomami and Piaroa indigenous groups. Following the tragic earthquake that ravaged Port Au Prince, we also responded with the creation of the Help Haiti Hope initiative to assist with ongoing relief efforts.
WT has successfully improved the lives of hundreds of indigenous children by providing education, school supplies, health care, and food; moreover it has provided their mothers with employment and income generating opportunities as well as practical seminars.
What are some of the specific problems that the organization works to remedy?
We work in communities whose primary needs and problems include extreme poverty, high malnutrition rates among the child population as well as high child mortality rates, gastrointestinal disease due to lack of clean drinking water, and deficiencies in education that prevent integral child development.
Tell us a little about the Susu bags: who makes them, and how?
The bags are made by Wayúu women at Shukumajaya. The bags are sold on our website—90% of the net proceeds go back into the community—or in stores and exclusive boutiques nationwide and abroad.
Do you think the current "tribal print" trend has helped increase visibility of Wayuu Taya products?
Absolutely! We couldn't have anticipated a better response. I think a great deal has to do with indigenous and handmade nature of the bags, and that they are supporting such a worthy and incredible cause. But it doesn't hurt that are "on trend." You know what they say, "timing is everything."
If there was one thing you could make Westerners understand about the Wayuu, what would it be?
Like the majority of indigenous towns, the Wayuu have been victims for centuries, socially ostracized for their difficulty to assimilate to new cultures without losing their traditions and ways of life. They are people in need who lack basic services, which puts them in permanent risk—above all in terms of their health. With a little help and empowerment from the initiatives of the Wayuu Taya Foundation, they can at least have access to an education and adequate medical attention, and also learn how to live in harmony with their culture, beliefs, and traditions.
What's next for the Wayuu Taya Foundation?
We have begun working with FESNOJIV, the National Network of Youth and Children's Orchestras of Venezuela, towards the creation of the first indigenous youth orchestra and will work on expanding our mission and scope to benefit more indigenous communities in Latin America.
BY CATHERINE BLAIR PFANDER // WEDNESDAY, APR 20, 2011 AT 05:14 EDT | PRINT

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNfwk3TJYOo&feature=share

THE SOUTH-SOUTH AWARDS WILL HONOR CELEBRITIES, WORLD AND INDUSTRY LEADERS ADVANCING WOMEN AND CHILDREN’S HEALTH
Worldwide Satellite Coverage Free for Government and Television Broadcast
New York, NY – September 8, 2011/ SSAWARDS – Heads of states, ambassadors, celebrities and distinguished members of the diplomatic community will be among the hundreds of eminent guests who will gather at the inaugural South-South Awards on September 19th, in New York City. The high-level global ceremony will honor the exceptional endeavors of select national governments, world and civic leaders, celebrities, and private sector pioneers who are contributing towards advancing Women & Children’s Health, and combating HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria, and other preventable diseases. 
 
Headlined by Mistress of Ceremonies, actress and model Ms. Patricia Velasquez, the theme of the South-South Awards will be “Digital Health for Digital Development,” recognizing outstanding innovations and applications of Information and Communication Technologies. The event will be hosted by the Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, and South-South News. Featuring special performances by Grammy Award winning artists Kenny G, Don Felder, Roberta Flack, Oumou Sangare, Miri Ben-Ari, and the All-Star Band led by renowned Music Director, Robin DiMaggio.
 
Gracing the red carpet will be heads of states, ministers, ambassadors, leading private sector stakeholders, and key figures from the world of media, culture, and entertainment. The high-level event will be broadcast LIVE worldwide via satellite to be downlinked free of rights by state and private media. The transmission will cover countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Caribbean, Russia, and the Middle East. The event will take place during the High Level Meetings of the United Nations General Assembly. 

Better Business for a Better World

2011 Global Conference for Social Change and Women & Girls Education Summit
Posted on September 6, 2011 by swolock
The Foundation for Social Change and United Nations Office for Partnerships present 2011 Global Conference for Social Change and Women & Girls Education Summit
October 5 -6 , 2011 | New York City
UN Plaza Hotel | First Avenue & 44th Street, Diplomat Ballroom

Moderated by: Jane Bornemeier, The New York Times | Heidi N. Moore, Marketplace, American Public Media | Mia Haugen, TheStreet.com | Amy Resnick, Thomson Reuters, Diane Brady, Bloomberg BusinessWeek | Femi Oke, New York Public Radio | Genevieve Bahrenburg, Above, and many others.

PROGRAM AGENDA
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 5 – “Women & Girls Education Summit: Driving Economic Progress”
7:30 to 9:00am – Registration / Breakfast
9:00am to 4:00pm – Presentations by NGOs involved in educating women & girls
Networking, public/private partnership opportunities, and one-on-one discussions.g
7:00 to 9:00pm – Private Reception
(By invitation only and VIP Guest Registrations)

Guest Speakers:
Cherie Blair, Founder, Cherie Blair Foundation for Women
Lakshmi Puri, Assistant Secretary General, UN Women
Amir Dossal, Chairman, Global Partnerships Forum
John Paul DeJoria, Co-Founder, Paul Mitchell Systems, Patron Spirits, JPSelects.com

Presentations by:

Patricia Velasquez, Wayuu Taya (Venezuela)
Alicia Marin, ALAS Foundation (Latin America)
Paula de Santis of Consulado da Mulher (Latin America)
Gina Reiss-Wilchins of GirlUp, UN Foundation
Patricia Sierra, Fundacion Pies Descalzos (Colombia)
Trina DasGupta, mWomen (Africa/Asia)
Liesel Pritzker, IDP Foundation (Ghana)
Dr. Cesar Rey and Bibiana Ferraiuoli, Ricky Martin Foundation (Global)
Kathy Pickus, Abbott Fund
Karen Spencer, Intel
Nicolette vanExel, SAP
Francine LeFrak, SameSky
Woman of Change Award: H.E. Sylvia Bongo Ondimba, First Lady of Gabon

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 6
“Global Conference for Social Change: Turn Social Responsibility Into Business Opportunity”
7:30 to 9:00am – Registration / Breakfast
9:00am to 4:00pm – Presentations by 2011 Leaders of Change
Networking, public/private partnership opportunities, and one-on-one discussions.
7:00 to 9:00pm – Private Reception
(By invitation only and VIP Guest Registrations)

Leaders of Change are organizations that have demonstrated an exemplary commitment to the pursuit of sustainability whereby environmental and social performance are embedded in the competitive strategy of the firm or organization.

2011 Leaders of Change Presenters are:

Derek O’Neill, CEO, Billabong
Zoe Tcholak-Antitch, Director, Carbon Disclosure Project
Amy Domini, Founder, Domini Social Investment Fund
Hugh Welsh, President, North America, DSM
Larry Blanford, CEO, Green Mountain Coffee Roasters
Mike Barry, CEO, Marks & Spencer
Steve Davies, Director, NatureWorks
Harry Verhaar, Senior Director, Philips
Mike Dupee, VP, Seventh Generation
TBD, Unilever
Special Honoree: Ricky Martin, UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador and President, Ricky Martin Foundation (video acceptance only – will not appear in person)

Attendees
Attending will be an audience of top Fortune 500 Corporate Executives, Venture Capitalists, Government Leaders, Heads of CSR, Foundation Presidents, and Social Entrepreneurs including firms such as Citigroup, JP Morgan Chase, Philanthropic Capital Group, Castellar Partners, Columbia University, NYU Stern School of Business, Dow Chemical, Nike, Reebok, Ringling College of Art and Design, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Carbon War Room, Global Partnerships Forum, United Nations, Nike Foundation, Intel, Adobe, World Bank, Microsoft, Cisco, Facebook and many, many more.

Strategic Partners
United Nations Office for Partnerships | NYU Stern School of Business |Cherie Blair Foundation for Women | mWomen | World Computer Exchange | WorldPulse | Purpose Campaign | GirlUp – UN Foundation | Carlisle Collection

For more information, contact Louise M. Guido directly at 212.203.2122 or lguido@foundationchange.org.

Actress Patricia Velasquez: Working in My Land, Venezuela, Is a Vital Need

WASHINGTON – Venezuelan actress Patricia Velasquez, who has made her career in the United States and lives in Los Angeles, feels it “a vital need” to make films in her own country, as she did with her last movie “Cenizas Eternas” (Eternal Ashes), which premiered at the Montreal World Film Festival.

“So many things are happening in our countries that I feel we must portray their idiosyncrasies, and movies are a great mode of expression,” Velasquez said on Saturday from Montreal, where Friday night her latest film premiered during the 35th Montreal World Film Festival.

“Cenizas Eternas” by Margarita Cadenas tells the story of Ana, a well-to-do Venezuelan who, in the 1950s, has an accident in the Amazon region. She survives, but her family and friends give her up for dead.

Ana must learn to live in an Indian community, until years later, when her daughter goes to the Amazon to look for her mother whom she could never lay to rest.

“My indigenous ancestry helped me understand all the spirituality of these communities, who live very close to us but whom we hardly know,” Velasquez said.

“It’s a movie that with be well liked in Venezuela because it speaks of our lands and our people. I also believe it will be successful in Europe, because they like movies like this and there is also a lot of interest in subjects related to indigenous peoples,” the actress said.

The film, which will premiere in Venezuela on Nov. 11, went over well with the Montreal audience Friday in its world premiere.

“All the movie-goers stayed for the questions-and-answers session, not one person left the theater, and that’s a very good sign,” Velasquez said.

The actress has two film projects scheduled for next year, one of them with her compatriot, the director Fina Torres.

The Montreal World Film Festival will show 383 movies from more than 70 countries, 50 of them from Spain and Latin America, to reclaim again this year its role as the springboard of independent films.

Director : Margarita Cadenas Script : Margarita Cadenas
Photography : Alfredo Cova Editor : Zoum Dominguez, Juan Teppa, Margarita Cadenas
Cast : Patricia Velasquez, Danay Garcia, Erich Wildpret, Arlette Torres, Francisco Gonzalez,

ETERNAL ASHES
ETERNAL ASHES tells the story of a mother, Ana, and her daughter, Elena, who, though they are separated in space and time, remain united forever. The people and the millenarian culture of the Yanomami people of the Amazonian rainforests of Brazil and Venezuela are the framework of this story about the unbreakable bonds of a mother-daughter relationship. In the 1950s, after an accident in the raging current of the celebrated Orinoco River, Ana was given up for dead. Elena is now an adult but she has never forgotten her mother. Despite the barely remote possibility that her mother survived, Elena decides to leave to the Amazon to search for her. But is it really her mother that she is searching for, or something different?

August 19, 2011 • 21:30:00 • CINÉMA QUARTIER LATIN 14 • L14.19.5 • Espagnol, Yanomami s.t.a.
August 20, 2011 • 14:00:00 • CINÉMA QUARTIER LATIN 14 • L14.20.3 • Espagnol, Yanomami s.t.a.
August 21, 2011 • 10:00:00 • CINÉMA QUARTIER LATIN 14 • L14.21.1 • Espagnol, Yanomami s.t.a.
August 27, 2011 • 12:10:00 • CINÉMA QUARTIER LATIN 14 • L14.27.2 • Espagnol, Yanomami s.t.a.

Buy tickets on admission.com

Great Interview . Beautiful pictures .Bellisima .
http://www.revistaetiqueta.com/