The African International Exchange for Art Foundation (AIEA Foundation) is a duly registered organization in Nigeria that is dedicated to fostering cultural exchange and artistic collaboration across the African continent.
The organization with its roots in China ,AIEA has programs in Nigeria, Uganda, kenya, China, and US and is about to also have footing in Hong Kong.
AIEA, through its numerous initiatives, aims to amplify diverse African voices, preserve rich cultural heritage, and inspire creativity.
As part of its effort to put smiles on the faces of the less privileged AIEA on the second of January, 2025,visited Little Saint Orphanage in Abule Egba Lagos State where the organisation donated picture books and kids’ clothes to the needy in Nigeria, with the support by Hangzhou Yungu Kindergarten China.
According to Thomas Chow MD /CEO AIEA Cheng Xiang Trustee member AIEA, this donation is part of our larger initiative to establish kids’ libraries across Africa, aiming to distribute over 10,000 books and reading materials to Kenya, Uganda, and Nigeria in 2025.
“We believe that access to books and reading materials is crucial for the development of young minds.
By providing these resources to Little Saints Orphanage , we hope to inspire a love of reading, expand children’s horizons, and contribute to their overall education.
It is important to note that donated books and clothes are intended exclusively for the use by Kids of Little Saints Orphanage under the supervision by officials of the Orphanage.
“The clothes shall be only distributed to kids currently registered within the Orphanage as well.
We trust that these books will be cherished and utilized effectively to enrich the educational experience of the kids.
We look forward to this partnership and the positive impact it hopes to achieve in Lagos and many other locations across Nigeria, where we plan to also extend the same attention to children in public and private schools in Nigeria.
The foundation currently has five main projects: Children’s Art Book Libraries in African Slums, compilation and publishing of African Indigenous Stories and Picture Books, International Artist Residencies in Africa,
Exhibitions of African Art, International Exchange Programs for African Artists
In the recent past, the organization
Completed Projects (as of August 2024): Donated children’s picture books to the Mathera slum in Kenya (the country’s second-largest slum, with a population of approximately 500,000) and the Kamwokya slum in Uganda. The initial donation was 2,000 books, with an increase of 1,000 books each subsequent quarter. The goal is to reach at least 10,000 children after the project’s completion.
Ongoing projects include:
Establishing public art spaces in African countries, including art book libraries and art exchange spaces, collecting and initially compiling and publishing indigenous African stories and picture books and African art Exhibitions in China.