Thank you to everybody who came to the launch of Migrant Artists Mutual Aid, we raised just under £600 for Fatoumata’s legal fund. Mutual Aid is not charity it is safety net that is based on shared values of justice and equality, it is a safety net that is recession proof, that affirms that even in the toughest times we can stand together to help ourselves.
If we keep our resources inside of our communities we can create prosperity even when times are difficult. It was wonderful to see the exchange of presents, cakes, cd’s and books. People left the Lantern Theatre with full stomachs, arms filled and hopefully renewed. But we are going to need more financial resources to fight for justice for Fatoumata.
At the moment the quickest way to do this is simply by donating through paypal. These donations will be used to pay for legal fees and transportation to London.
DONATE BY PAYPAL CLICK HERE
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This is the beginning of a group of artists who can come together to raise small pots of money to grapple with huge problems. In January of 2011 my family faced the grim reality of not being able to stay together for the lack of 900 pounds. There were no exemptions in the immigration rules to deal with families facing financial hardships short of human rights protection once we faced deportation.
With the support of another artist, Lena Simic, through the Becoming British project I was able to pay the fee. It is not enough, however, just to solve one person’s problem.
Migrant Artists Mutual Aid will be a network of people coming together to produce and attend events that can raise between 1000 and 3000 pounds.
December 11, 2011 we will be hosting our first event to support Fatoumata Sowe, a Gambian mother claiming asylum to protect her 2 year old British born daughter from FGM. We will need to raise 3000 pounds in order for her to have the top barristers to represent her case to the highest level necessary.
The event will be hosted by the Lantern Theatre and we need artists that are willing to perform, give short workshops, donate small works for auction, attend the event, and help spread the word.
This is not a one off however. Mutual Aid is a type of social insurance where everybody feels more secure knowing that there is a community of support that is there for you if you are in a crisis.
