Members of the community came together for a memorial and fundraiser for the children in Gaza last month at The Silk Mill.
Organisers Sarah Phillips (Caravan Arts), Angelique Mulholland, Tamsyn Gill and Frome Friends of Palestine felt there was a need to create a space for the public to show solidarity with the people of Palestine.
The family-friendly event, which included an auction, was attended by over 70 people and raised over £1,600 for The Palestinian Children’s Relief Fund @thepcrf. “This will directly help children in Palestine,” says Sarah Phillips. “The Zaytoun fair trade stall sold over £400 of Palestinian produce, including textiles, soap and olive oil.
“The event was to remember the thousands of children killed and make a call for action. It was a huge collective effort, with local organisations, artists, and volunteers providing support, activities, food and music for the event, including Patisserie May, Super Roots and Andy Hawkings, local musician and teacher.
“It was intended not to be a celebration but a tribute to Palestinian culture and the incredible resilience of young people through poetry, art, storytelling, music and food.”
Tamsyn Gill organised an exhibition and online arts auction, ‘Pictures for Palestine,’ which had over 30 works contributed by local artists.
“The event was attended by people demonstrating the desire of local residents to collectively voice their protest at the ongoing bombardment,” says Sarah. “People of all ages created birds to add to the ‘Birds of Gaza’ evolving installation in the caravan, made banners, embroidered a Palestinian tapestry, and sang songs around the fire.
“As a finale there was a silent procession through the town centre to The Boyle Cross with the crowd carrying birds of freedom and banners displaying peace symbols and the words, ‘Stop arming Israel.’”
One resident, Abir, who attended with her children, said, “My children enjoyed the caravan and making birds at the Silk Mill. I was relieved when I saw the love for peace and for all wars to stop, whether in Palestine or not.
“When I was a very young woman in Syria and bombs were being dropped on us, we would hide like mice so we would not die. I saw people dying before my eyes. I experienced what war is and what fear is like.
“In a place where there are wars, there is no beautiful future for children; they live in fear all their lives. How I wish that all wars in the world would stop so that people could rest from the destruction and think about the future, what it would be like with peace.”
