[matilda] Proposal: fundraiser

[Benjamin Major]

Hello,

Some of you might be aware that in December I am heading off to the middle 
east for six weeks. Three of these weeks will be spent at a children's 
village for orphans in the southern Jordan town of Aqaba. For the remainder 
of the time I will be travelling first through Egypt (that's before I get to 
Jordan) and then finally into Palestine where I hope to visit other projects 
that assist people with their great struggles in adversity to the oppressive 
systems they have to live within, including projects run by the 
International Young Palestinians League IYPL.

I would very much like to have a small fundraiser in order to be able to 
give a donation to grassroots projects that look like they are doing 
fantastic work in the area and giving people the chance to freely express 
themselves and participate with the self determination that we are lucky to 
have in Matilda. I'm not proposing an all night techno party. All I would 
like is an evening, perhaps a regular social evening, given a middle eastern 
flavour. I will cook falafels, there will be a chance to sit around with 
some nagilas (or whatever you want to call them) and a good game of 
backgammon. A film showing, storytelling, a couple of DJ's playing till 
about 12, bellydancers... this kind of thing. It will be an oppertunity also 
to invite around some of Sheffield's Palestine Solidarity community. Buy in 
some Palestinian beer from the Olive Co-op in Manchester + lots and lots of 
tea (again, this is not a proposal for an all night party as I would like it 
to be the kind of evening I might be happy to bring my little nephew and 
niece too).

Any thoughts?

Love, Ben.