Early in 2026, I started the process of launching straight out of my comfort zone. Planning an involved trip to East Africa as a medical volunteer (& taking my oldest daughter with me) for the summer of 2026, I began to build and strengthen ties with the local community there.

As part of my preparation, I began a fundraiser to support local programming and the people I will be working alongside. Quickly, the funds translated into meaningful change on the ground, even before our departure! We were able to help transform TAMIHA orphanage, where young and abandoned children have the dignity of now eating at tables instead of on the floor!

Around the same time, I began working on a collection of art pieces, consisting of my floral photography printed on canvas & transformed by acrylic paint. Together with a friend and local salon owner, we decided to hang these original works in his salon, July through September 2026, calling this the “Flowers for Tanzania” project. I committed to donating 100% of the proceeds from all sales of original work directly to our GoFundMe page. Buyers will contribute a donation and take home a piece of art in return! All money raised goes directly to the people of Tanzania, continuing to support TAMIHA orphanage, WEHAF- a widows empowerment program, food programming, and more!

To take this even further, I developed a line of fine art greeting cards printed on the highest quality linen cardstock, available for sale on my website. 20% of the proceeds from the sale of these card sets will also be donated directly to our fund, and this will be ongoing.

This has been a pivotal movement of connecting all parts of myself- Artist, pediatrician, mother and human in a most beautiful way. Thank you for being here for it!

Fine Art cards can be purchased on my website at any time. To inquire about sales of original work, please contact me or Salon Artist in Watertown, MA.

To follow our journey: shirabrown.substack.com

To donate directly: https://gofund.me/7ec2aeeac