The Urban Futures Centre (UFC) at the Durban University of Technology (DUT) in partnership with 2 Suns Shamsaan played host to an event called Butterfly Souls to profile the loss of life and injuries suffered by the children of Palestine in the conflict with Israel.
The Butterfly Souls project is an inspiring idea where South African children acknowledge, remember and honour those that have been killed in Gaza.
The Butterfly Souls workshop took place at the Alliance Française de Durban in Morningside, on Saturday, 27 January 2024. Each child in attendance chose a name of one child in Palestine whose name was written on the butterfly.
Welcoming the attendees to the event was Professor Monique Marks, Head of Urban Futures Centre at DUT, who explained that hosting such a workshop was a way of both DUT and 2 Suns Shamsaan, of pledging their support to the people of Palestine, especially children. She spoke of the human rights violations that are taking place in Gaza. She further explained that the people of Palestine are in full support of this gesture of Butterfly Souls.
Giving context into the event and insight into the reason behind the event was Ms Nadia Meer, a Human Rights activist, and Head of 2 Suns Shamsaan, a South African charity working on Palestine projects. She explained to the children at the workshop that there were thousands of children that had been killed. She indicated that to acknowledge and honour those children the idea came about through 2 Suns Shamsaan to host a butterfly making workshop.
“Besides those that have been killed in the bombings there is also the problem of those that are living with no food, water and diseases,” she commented.
She said that South Africa watching these atrocities has stood up and said to the world that everyone needs to get involved.
“We have a list of names of thousands of these children that have died, so as a gesture to honour these children is what these butterflies are being made for,” said Meer.
Speaking further on Gaza was Adnan Seyam, who was born and had lived in Gaza. He now resides in Durban along with his family.
“We want to send a message to the whole world that there is a voice for these kids that are being killed every day in Gaza. We just hope that everyone can open their eyes to what is going on there,” he said.
He spoke of his families that are still in Gaza saying that every day that goes by is like a miracle for them. “Nothing is secured, you don’t know what is going to happen the next day,” he said.
He aims to go back home as there was a lot of work to do, especially after the war, and also because his family home had been bombed.
After the formalities, the children were given the opportunity to showcase their artistic talent by painting butterflies or making origami butterflies.
Twelve-year-old Ines Caniciani from Maris Stella enjoyed her time painting at the workshop.
“I really like all the dynamic colours on my butterfly as it really inspired me. I feel very bad for those children who have passed away in Gaza, I am drawing butterflies as it is my way of contributing and honouring them,” she said.
Six-year-old Mariam Khan from Hartley Road Primary School excitedly made five glittery butterfly paintings whilst singing the song, Free, free Palestine.
Sonali Chetty, an Interior Design lecturer at DUT was also present at the event, happily demonstrating the art of origami making to the children, especially the matric pupils who were present from Overport Secondary School.
“We decided on origami, (a Japanese art of paper folding), as a symbol of peace. It’s basically the art of paper folding and after they are done they are going to write little messages to dedicate to the children in Gaza who had passed away since the start of the war,” she added.
Berenice De La Croix, the Project Manager for the School Engagement Project said, “The Butterfly Souls Workshop (27 January 2024) and the forthcoming Butterfly Souls Family Day (4 February 2024) are such wonderful opportunities for children to learn about human rights, to get involved in helping children under threat, and to become peace-building activists.”
All the butterfly painting and origami butterflies that were done at the workshop will be sold at an auction in time to come and the proceeds will go towards the children of Palestine. Meer delved into the fundraising drive that is also part of the Butterfly Souls Campaign.
She commented that children are always the first to suffer in any conflict and the stories are continuing to come from Gaza are the stuff of nightmares. She said that more than 10 children per day, on average, have lost one or both of their legs in Gaza since the bombardment started.
“These children will face a lifetimes of pain management, mobility support and medical care will be needed for each of them. Gaza’s collapsed medical system is unable to give children the intricate follow-up care they need to salvage their still-growing, truncated bones. Poor hygiene and medicine shortages spell more complications over the healing process and further amputations on existing injuries, some of which may not be survivable. Children with war-related amputations may require up to a dozen surgeries on the limb by the time they reach adulthood because the bone keeps growing,” she said.
Meer further conveyed that the aim is to assist children to become optimally mobile again and this will involve working with institutional partners and in consultation with medical and rehabilitative support teams in the supply of wheelchairs, crutches and other assistive devices. and thereafter to assist with prosthetic limbs which has been the expressed wish of all children.
If anyone would like to assist, the banking details are: Account name: FMYO, FNB Bank Branch code:252205, Account number: 62882944335, Reference: Butterfly Souls.
Pictured: Sonali Chetty, Professor Runette Kruger, Nadia Meer, Mariam Khan, Prof Monique Marks and Aimee Bokyela.
Photography: Mnqobi Ngobese.
Waheeda Peters
