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Organized by Kayhan Irani

Refugees Make Theater

£3,911

raised of 0 GBP goal

313 supporters, 00h : 00m : 00s left
SUCCESS!

Impact: Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur

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This campaign will collect all funds raised by July 2, 2017 at 8:00 PM EDT

Afghan refugees in Malaysia build networks of support through the arts!


I am Kayhan Irani, a writer and theater artist who trains culture workers to weave human rights concerns into their work through theater and storytelling

Saleh Sepas was my student, my assistant, and became my right hand during the years I worked in Kabul with the BBC World Service Trust and Afghan Education  Production Organization . 

He and his family are now refugees living in Malaysia and his goal is to use theater to bring attention to the human rights struggles of those refugees. 

Anyone who knows what travails a refugee has to endure, knows that this effort is unique, inspirational, and illustrates the gifts that refugees bring to their host nation.


Saleh's Struggle: To Break the Isolation of Refugees Like Himself

Despite struggling to find work, get documented, and feed his family, Saleh's one desire has been to help other refugees. He wants to use his training and talent to help Afghan refugees in Malaysia create a mutual support network through theater.


Afghanistan to Malaysia

In Afghanistan, Saleh was a writer, theater trainer, and social activist. We became friends and colleagues through working together for four years, under the BBC World Service Trust and the Afghan Education & Production Organization. 

He was my student, my assistant, and held the institutional knowledge of all my theater for social change trainings within the organization. He also started his own advocacy group with other young people in Kabul and spread theater and storytelling approaches for human rights work to other parts of the country. 

Because of this work, he and his family were targeted and were forced to flee Afghanistan due to threats and violence carried out against his life.


Refugees in Malaysia do not have guaranteed residency, rights, or protections from exploitation

Despite being a displaced person, having no personal networks in Malaysia, and lacking full language skills, he believes he will survive the inhumanity of his situation if he can make art. He is creating an all refugee theater group that will provide a creative outlet to the most marginalized. 


This group will
allow Afghan refugees in Malaysia to share stories of joy and struggle,
and help them build their power and the internal capacity to assist one another


Let's give him a boost!


Global Connections

Through the wonder of the internet (yes can be a force for good -- hello LaunchGood!) my friends and family around the globe have sent frantic emails to human rights organizations, advocates, and even the U.N. 

We found a superstar that heeded the call to support Saleh and his big dreams. The Geutanyoe Foundation Malaysia has stepped up to help him create his theater troupe. They will secure a space to rehearse, be a channel to raise funds, and arrange an opportunity to present a theater piece in a human rights and refugee festival this August. 

He will make theater that changes lives!


Saleh has already created a name for the group, Parastoo Theater. 

He sent a message on an Afghan Viber group and received 25 interested people. He's led the first rehearsal and audition and will choose the most committed and focused of the bunch. He's done all this with zero funds! 

Saleh is getting off the ground with the support and generosity of other refugees who are barely scraping by. They even made a logo!

After this pilot, Saleh wants to work with different refugee populations in Malaysia: Pakistanis, Iranians, Syrians, and Burmese and help each community create a theater group. 

All this while facing the same bleak odds and harsh realities himself.

Your Gift Allows Him to Fly

Here is the breakdown of the GBP 2745.00 and where it will go. Any funds we raise over this amount will be held in reserve to allow Saleh to expand his dream of taking the theater projects into other refugee enclaves in Malaysia.

Space Rental: GBP 193 (total for 4 months; 2 times a week)
Stipend: GBP 2320 (116/month/person; 5 people over 4 months)
Snacks and Water: GBP 77
Props and costumes: GBP 155
Launch Good Percentage: GBP 220

Other supplies will be sourced and donated locally.


YOU ARE GIVING TO SOMEONE WHO WON'T BE STOPPED.


YOUR GIFT IS GUARANTEED TO MAKE A CHANGE IN THE NEXT 3 MONTHS
SHARE THIS CAMPAIGN TO BACK SALEH AND REFUGEES MAKING THEATER


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Updates 1

Kayhan Irani7 years ago

Saleh Keeps Giving Back

Dearest Friends and Supporters,

Saleh and Parastoo Theater thank you all from the bottom of their hearts for standing with them and believing in their mission. Since the campaign closed, they have been hard at work -- and have received attention from local and regional organizations!

Last week, Saleh conducted a workshop and presented a piece of the theater play to the Community Engaged Arts Network Asia. ( http://ceaasia.wixsite.com/home )

According to their site: "The CEA Network was started in recognition of an increase in Malaysia of artists stepping into communities to conduct arts activities and also an increase in activists and socially conscious individuals using the arts as a catalyst for change. Workshops such as this are a step in trying to facilitate stronger relationships between practitioners and to equip artists and culture workers with new skills and knowledge that will help them in their work."

Your support has given Saleh a foundation to stand on so that his work and his contributions may be recognized by others!! We know that he will continue to rise and we look forward to sending you further updates on his success.

With Gratitude,
Kayhan Irani


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