October 6, 2008
Dance For Peace raises over £1000 for Afghan refugees
On September 20, 2008 at the Gulbenkian Theatre, Canterbury, a show called Dance For Peace took place. 80 youngsters from six local dance schools performed. Ticket sales, programme sales and donations raised a total of £1312.99 for local charity Trust Sulha.
Trust Sulha educates Afghan refugee children in Pakistan. Journalist Marnie Summerfield Smith, from Whitstable founded it. Marnie visited Afghan refugee camps in Quetta, Pakistan in 2002. She met Jamilla Abassy, an Afghan refugee, who had opened schools there. A few years later, one of Jamilla’s teachers, Rahema Sherzhad opened the Marnie Smith Middle School. Marnie then created Trust Sulha to support Rahema and Jamilla, who between them are educating almost 2,000 young people. The refugees are gradually returning to Afghanistan, when they feel it is safe and can afford it. All students are taught the Afghan curriculum so that they can easily slot into schools at home.
Marnie said, “During our afternoon rehearsal I explained to the dancers why we needed to raise money for these children. I told them Afghan children wanted education so they could grow up to make Afghanistan a peaceful, successful place. I said that one of the reasons Afghans had left their country was because of the Taliban who, among other things, had made dance illegal. I think telling them that had quite an impact on them.
“The finale I choreographed was performed in front of images of the Afghan children projected onto the backdrop. It was very emotional but very uplifting. In addition, Afghan writer Shabibi Shah spoke about her experiences as a refugee, which was incredibly moving.
“I was amazed at the amount we raised. Every single penny will go directly to the schools and will make a massive difference. So far, Trust Sulha has provided seating, desks, uniforms, and stationery. We’ve paid rent, electricity, heating, the salaries of teaching and security staff and even rebuilt the Marnie Smith Middle School after Pakistani authorities demanded it be moved. During the show I read a letter from a student called Halima. Halima said: ‘I am very thankful to Trust Sulha for helping us get dresses in the right moment of cold weather. It was a big help for all the girls and brought lots of smiles to faces who had not been smiling even once a month. May Trust Sulha keep many faces smiling forever’.
“I am so grateful to all the dancers, their teachers, everyone that helped me and everyone who came to watch. So far this year, we have raised almost £4,000 and the money goes such a long way in Pakistan. I need to raise £5,000 a year to register with the Charity Commission, which would be great as it brings so many benefits. If anyone would like to help us, please go to www.trustsulha.org.uk for more information or to download a standing order form. A donation of just £2 a month would, over one year, pay a teacher’s salary for a whole month. You can also write to Trust Sulha, PO BOX 249, Whitstable, Kent, CT5 4WU and send cheques made payable to Trust Sulha.”
The schools that took part were Kent Youth Dance Company, da capo performing arts, Hasland School of Dance and Performing Arts, Dance Warehouse, Page Mason School of Dance and Drama and The Old Bakehouse Dance Studios.
Part of the Canterbury Festival's Artists' Open Houses programme will be raising money for Trust Sulha this year. Writer Katherine May, from Whitstable, has invited Wendy Daws, visual artist and jewellery maker, Pam Dodds, ceramicist, Tracey Falcon, visual artist, Wolf Howard, pinhole photographer, painter and poet, Jean Lowe, ceramicist, Alison Swan, ceramicist to join her for an exhibition at her home Saturday 11th/Sunday 12th; Saturday 18th/Sunday 19th; Saturday 25th October, 11 - 5pm, all at 18 Warwick Road, Whitstable, CT5 1HY. 10 per cent of sales will go towards Trust Sulha. A wonderful opportunity to find some beautiful Christmas presents and help these Afghan children bring peace into the world.
Not for publication: Marnie Summerfield Smith 07710 721 389 marniesparkle@yahoo.com
ENDS