It has been an honor to serve! 

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The Houston-Luanda Sister City Association (HLSCA) is a nonprofit volunteer organization committed to enhancing and exchanging citizen diplomacy and intercultural appreciation between the people from the city of Houston and the city of Luanda. 

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April 23rd 2022, marked one year since the HLSCA board of directors has been elected. Thanks for trusting us to lead the efforts to make HLSCA’s mission a reality. Also, thanks to our membership, the new and existing ones, for being a part of the HLSCA family!

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Our objective has been to rebuild the HLSCA and recreate a vibrant exchange between both cities.

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This is what we have accomplished year-to-date:

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• Initiated a successful artistic fundraising gala featuring acclaimed Angolan artist Manuel Ventura. It also showcased the beautiful designs of Nadir Tati, the Angolan fashion designer. 

• Identified Cajueiro hospital in Luanda as in need of specific medical equipment and found a provider in Houston, Medical Bridges, willing to furnish the required supplies.

• Participated for the first time in the Sister City International Youth Leadership Summit by sponsoring a 14-year-old Angolan from Luanda. He discussed with other students the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

• Organized in partnership with the consulate of Angola in Houston and the Embassy of Angola in the United States the contest for Young Angolan Artists and Authors of Diaspora in the U.S.

• Collected art-related books to donate to ELA ESPACO-LUANDA ART GALLERY in Luanda for use by artists, students, and the general public.

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For 2022 the board and its members are working tirelessly to: 

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• Deliver Cajueiro’s hospital in Luanda the needed specific medical equipment supplies.*

• Organize in partnership with the consulate of Angola in Houston and the Embassy of Angola in the United States for the second year the contest for Young Angolan Artists and Authors of Diaspora in the U.S, Mexico, Canada, and some Schools in Luanda. The winners of HLSCA contest will enter the Sister City International (SCI) YAAS contest.

• Participate in the Angola Artist In Residency Program - Angola AIR, with an artist from Houston.

• Participate in the International Festival USA a celebration of Asians and Pacific Islanders in the United States.*

• Deliver donated art-related books to ELA ESPACO-LUANDA ART GALLERY in Luanda for use by artists, students, and the general public.

• Participate in the Sister City International Youth Leadership summit. 

• Engage with Prairie View A&M University to create a seed bank project in partnership with Boy and Girl Scouts of Angola.

• Participate in the Houston Sister Cities Soccer Tournament.*

• Establish a connection with both male and female National Basketball Association (NBA) Africa Junior League.

• Organize the annual artistic fundraising gala featuring American and Angolan artists.*  

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Please join us! We won’t be able to fully accomplish all this without your support. 

Membership is open to all persons and organizations with an interest in pursuing these goals benefiting both Luanda and Houston.

Together we can achieve more for the people living in both cities. To join click here.

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Sincerely,

Fátima Benge,

President, HLSCA

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*Volunteers are welcome to help HLSCA organize those activities.