August 2007 -- Angie Ruiz may be moving up in Hollywood, but if you’re looking to take her picture, you might try the plains of Tanzania before you check the L.A. night scene. That’s because this California native is a passionate advocate of education reform and HIV/AIDS awareness in rural Africa – to the point that she arranges her film and television production schedule around biannual trips to the region. And for someone who counts herself among People en Espanol’s New Faces of 2006 – not to mention starring alongside Daniel Craig in 2008’s Flashbacks of a Fool – maintaining her commitment to others is no small task!
This August, Angie brought her message on women’s role in African education to the Dar es Saalam charity event “Shine for SHINA,” where she was a featured speaker. SHINA, which stands for “Send Hope, Inspire and Nourish by utilizing Accumulated knowledge and skills,” is a multicultural nonprofit organization that collaborates with smaller grassroots groups in rural areas. Founded by native Tanzanian Jessica Kamala-Mushala in 2003, SHINA members share similar cultural, economic, social and educational concerns as Angie.
Angie’s experience in the region continues to grow through her dedication to two grassroots education programs, Center for Good Destiny (CGD) and Kitumusote. Both nonprofit organizations offer unprecedented opportunities for adult secondary education among rural Tanzanians, and are supported by Angie’s Wandering Star Foundation.
While the CGD focuses on helping students earn their GED equivalent, Kitumusote specifically aims to preserve the culture and environment of the Maasai tribe through reforestation initiatives and women's literacy programs. Kitumusote, which translates to “we have discovered” in the Maasai language, is community-based group centered on ensuring the survival and sustainability of the Maasai way of life.
Digett is pleased to help Angie in her humanitarian efforts, providing both her website and the Kitumusote site with the tools to communicate their successes and struggles online. Through the website, Angie and organization leaders can quickly upload information on their recent progress through current photos, blogs and articles, and site visitors can easily sign up for summer volunteer programs and informational newsletters. And because of Kitumusote’s international reach, these mechanisms are particularly important to sustaining a global audience.
How You Can Help
Learn, listen and care. Find out more and get involved at these websites: