Livestock - Empathy Action

Parents get behind a ‘Syrian’ School Summer Festival

Festival bracelets made by displaced Syrian Women for Livestock 2016

St Michaels Summer Festival Bracelets being prepared for the making.

St Michaels Summer Festival Bracelets in the making.

Following the success of Syrian refugee women made festival entrance bracelets last year, parents of St Michaels Prep School, Otford have sought a similar venture for their sell-out summer festival for over 500 people.

After the Global Citizenship empathy programme earlier this year with St Michaels school, one parent sought to do more within the school. Kate French, loved the idea, like Livestock Festival last year, of having bracelets specially made up by displaced Syrian women to help and show support from the school to others less fortunate than themselves. She especially liked the thought of other school parents stepping up to make this happen.

Already the school has created a number of excellent responses since the Empathy Day with children turning their birthdays into events to give gifts with purpose for their guests using the Action Packs and fundraising to help the education of other displaced children. Two lads even raised over £2000 for Oxfam’s Syrian Refugee Response through shaving their heads.

The event is on the 20th May and the chase is on by Kate to find other parents to be ‘Key Donors’ in making this happen. It represents, for Kate, a real opportunity to make thier school festival give twice- not only to the people attending but also to the Syrian women making the bracelets and for their family’s livelihoods.

There were some great ladies from our partners in Small Projects Istanbul who helped last time, see pictures beneath and click on them to find out more about the women and their families.

If you are interested in getting involved or having a similar Syrian themed event, party, wedding or conference get in touch with us here. We’d love to help you make your event give twice.

Meet Mayada (maker of Livestock’s White Bracelets)

Meet Sousan (maker of Livestock’s Blue Bracelets)

Meet Ayat (maker of Livestock’s Red Bracelets)

Meet Muna (maker of Livestock’s Yellow Bracelets)

Meet Sabah (maker of Livestock’s Green Bracelets)

Photos by Alpkhan Photography, Small Projects Istanbul & Empathy Action

Festival bracelets made by Syrian Mothers

Photos by Alpkhan Photography

West Kent local music event Livestock 2016 will be using funky festival bracelets that are lovingly made by five mothers who fled Syria.

This year Livestock want their festival to help “families both locally and abroad” fundraising for two local voluntary groups Fegans and Meeting Need. They also wanted something special for this year’s event that meant buying a ticket will not just fundraise but also directly help displaced people. One of the Livestock founders has been a regular volunteer in the Calais refugee camp and together with the other founders wanted to make this idea come alive at their event.

Each person attending the festival will be given a bracelet that is hand made by Syrian mothers.

Depending on which of the five colours the festival goers receive they will be made by one of the five women who are currently based in Istanbul. Displaced by the conflict in Syria the women are part of a livelihood support and skills development offered by our partner Olive Tree Crafts.

Earlier this year, from creating a bespoke product at the World Humanitarin Summit, we met and have subsequently partnered with the Olive Tree Crafts to develop a special friendship bracelet for Empathy Action kid’s party Action Packs. The partnership has allowed the connection to these specific women and able to work alongside them. Having interviewed them recently we will have a short feature on each of them on our Facebook & Instagram pages building up to this Saturday’s event.

Those taking part in this weekend’s Livestock will not only wear a special product woven and made by these women but also help their family and their dignity. The additional funds raised from the event will go towards helping broken families locally and abroad.

Empathy Action will also be running a stall with other products made from groups working with refugees at the event. For more information about tickets and how to attend Livestock 2016 please visit here.

If you are interested in creating a special product for your event please get in touch.