It is a known fact that the Isle of Wight is similar in land size to the land size of Gaza, so we share an idea of how difficult times must be for the millions of people who live there, without homes and more often without loved ones.
Last year, Isle of Wight artist, Kathy Williams, came across photographs of drawings made by the displaced children of Gaza, and she was struck at how similar these drawings look to drawings made by any other child in any part of the world. She realised that this is a vital connection…the drawings from our children show our common humanity.
Hope and Play charity
Kathy contacted the Hope and Play charity…the charity who work every day to provide some form of creative sessions, promoting fun and togetherness to displaced children, children who had already lost so much, to ask if we here in the Island could send drawings to these children….to send hope, to send love and care.
That despite and away from politics, we connect on a human level, in the form of pictures, from us ordinary folk here on the Island to the ordinary folk caught up in Gaza.
Messages for the Island
Incredibly, 17 children who live in Gaza have already sent their drawings to the Island.
“We love Britain,,,, Hello Isle of Wight…Thank you!” are words some have written for us in English, other messages are currently being translated into English.
So …..Islanders and overners … please start drawing.
You can draw hopes, wishes and dreams, draw and ask about pets, subjects at school, things we dream of. It’s up to you….we need your pictures now.
Where to send them
Please send your drawings to [email protected] and she will forward them on to the children from Gaza, and she will share their replies back to you.
Visit the incredible Hope and Play charity website to find out about the amazing work, and to donate if you can.
More information can be found on one of the Doors as part of the 7Door art trail in the park for Ventnor Fringe.
News shared by Kathy, in her own words. Ed
