help me study art in Belfast after taliban burnt my painting

Alina Gawhary is organizing this fundraiser.

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HELP ME, ALINA, STUDY FINE ART AT ULSTER UNIVERSITY, BELFAST CITY OF MUSIC, 3 YEARS AFTER THE TALIBAN BURNT MY PAINTINGS

We invite you to be a part of my story in a victory against the men who tried to take away all my freedoms including my right to be an artist and make music.

This fundraiser is to support an opportunity to study art at University of Ulster and for a new life in Belfast, a UNESCO City of Music.

Music & Arts is banned in Afghanistan by the regime and with gender apartheid women have no rights.

With a special visitors visa to Northern Ireland, I spoke at various International Women’s Day events in March 2024. During this time in Belfast, I met for the first time the woman who got me out of Afghanistan to Bangladesh, composer Sadie Harrison.

I invite you to watch the short film of when i meet her in Belfast for the first time https://youtu.be/ZML3H3lvBbw

My blog: www.beyondskin.net/alina

I had to return to Bangladesh after my visit visa where there is now civil unrest and once again I find myself in dangerous place.

I am Alina Gawhary, an artist, born in 2004 in Kabul Province. Although my family did not understand my passion for art I was determined from a very young age to follow my dream to become an artist and teacher. Alongside other girls I was able to develop my skills and engage with the wonderful artistic cultures around the world, looking forward to a time when I could share my knowledge with other students as an educator. But in 2021, these dreams came crashing to the ground when the Taliban returned to Afghanistan. From the day that they took the country all art ceased, education for girls ceased, I became a prisoner in my home unable to continue my studies as an artist and musician. Every day I lived in fear that my artwork would be discovered and my family bravely smuggled some of my paintings into the countryside where they would be safer. However, the Taliban came to my home and found several drawings which they burnt in front of me.

But I am not a girl who gives up! Every day I reached out to people across the world to help me escape Afghanistan. I knew that escape was the only way that I could pursue my art and to give my family the chance of a better future through me. I sent many, many messages and had no responses for several weeks, but in September 2021, Sadie Harrison from the UK responded. This was the beginning of my journey out of Afghanistan, a journey that was so difficult and so long that at times we did not think it would be possible. But with her help and the support of so many wonderful people across the world, I finally managed to leave my country and my dear family, arriving in Bangladesh to study at the Asian University for Women in 2023, nearly 2 years after Sadie and I first began our conversations.

Although I had reached freedom in Bangladesh being able to study, still I was not able to study art, and much social unrest also in Bangladesh, so I knew that my journey had to continue. a year later, with the incredible help of the charity Beyond Skin and partners I found myself in Northern Ireland for 7 days with a guest visitor visa, meeting Sadie for the first time in person and giving lectures and presentations in Belfast and even talking to Members of Parliament.

One of the highlights of my visit in Belfast was giving a lecture at the University of Ulster as a guest of the Art Department. And beyond all my dreams, I was offered a place on their Fine Art undergraduate degree course starting in October 2024. This is an incredible date, because it is 3 years after the Taliban walked into my home and burnt my artworks. Becoming an art student in Belfast, Northern Ireland, the City of Music is my victory over the Taliban! I hope with all my heart that you feel able to support me, to help me raise the funds that I need to pursue this victory to the very end! Thank you!