The Urban Futures Centre (UFC) at the Durban University of Technology (DUT) in collaboration with 2 Suns Shamsaan and People Against Oppression (PAO) will be hosting a solidarity and fundraising event called Butterfly Souls Family Day-Supporting Gaza’s Children at the Peoples Park in the Moses Mabhida precinct on Sunday, 04 February 2024 from 10h00 to 16h00.
According to Prof Monique Marks, the Head of Urban Futures Centre at DUT, the event will be filled with exciting activities to honour the thousands of Palestinian children who have been killed. She indicated that the aim of the event is to join South Africans who want to create a world of peace.
“Our event will offer a space for people of all religions and affiliations to show solidarity with Palestinians enduring ongoing bombardment and to raise funds for medical care needs. The attendees will learn about children’s rights, activism, and build a vision for justice through art, crafts, storytelling, and friendship,” explained Prof Marks.
She further explained that the event will also show support for the living children of Palestine who needs support from the world to heal and recover.
Ms Nadia Meer, a Human Rights activist and Head of 2 Suns Shamsaan, a South African charity working on Palestine projects gave insight to the highlight of the event. She indicated that they will be welcoming South African activist, Itani Rasalanavho who embarked on a Long Walk For Gaza from Johannesburg to Durban, expected to take 11 days.
“Itani will be arriving in Durban on Sunday after embarking on a long walk, by foot to raise funds for the children in Gaza. We will welcome him at the event as he will be arriving in Durban to raise awareness and funding to support the huge number of children who have suffered limb amputation in Palestine since 7 October 2023. Proceeds from the event will go towards assisting children through recovery and mobility,” said Meer.
The attendees will get to create special memories where they take photos in butterfly wings in the selfie booth. Kids will get to enjoy T-shirt printing, kite making, sand art, story time, face painting, fun with inflatables, food stalls and so much more.
Pictured: The Butterfly Souls Family Day-Supporting Gaza’s Children poster.
Simangele Zuma
