Farmers Helping Farmers has announced a special initiative to attract youth to the major upcoming event, An Evening with Stephen Lewis and Friends, to be held at the Confederation Centre this coming Thursday, October 9. A block of tickets in the balcony section will be made available to students at $10, less than half the regular price. These will go on sale on Wednesday morning, through the Confederation Centre Box Office – phone 566-1267.
“Mr. Lewis’ message is one of social justice and hope – hope for the world and hope for Africa,” says John VanLeeuwen, president of Farmers Helping Farmers, the sponsoring organization. “Thus we think it imperative that as many of our Island people as possible have a chance to hear what he has to say.”
Mr. Lewis, one of Canada’s outstanding humanitarians and public figures, is a passionate advocate for empowering the women of Africa, particularly in the context of the ongoing AIDS pandemic. He was the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa from June 2001 until the end of 2006.
The evening will also feature the music of some of the Island’s and Canada’s outstanding musicians, who are donating their time. Lewis will be joined on stage by performers Lennie Gallant and Ruth Mathiang, with their accompanying musicians.
This fundraising event is part of the Women Making Waves campaign, an initiative of Farmers Helping Farmers, in association with marathon swimmer Kristin Roe and the Stephen Lewis Foundation. Ms. Roe’s successful double-crossing of the Northumberland Strait in July was the first major step in this campaign.
There are also tickets still available for the general public, at $35 for general admission and $25 for seniors.
An Evening with Stephen Lewis and Friends will take place on the Confederation Centre Main Stage, beginning at 8 p.m.