Take Back

Good morning all
Very belatedly a huge thank you to all who came to see My Name is Rachel Corrie at 53Two in March.
Congratulations to Harriet Bibby for an astonishing powerhouse of a performance and to Ian Kershaw for beautiful direction. Special mention to our own Grant Archer for his fantastic design and George Miller for the lighting and for running the whole thing.
We had a powerful after show discussion on the final Sunday with Ra Page from Comma Press and Dr Mona El-Farra, an incredible human being and human rights activist who had met Rachel in Gaza before her death.
Lots of people asked for a resource page, and although this is not definitive by any measure, please find below some suggestions, provided by Ra. We are so grateful.
The situation in Gaza remains catastrophic. Please help if you can.

Sheffield Palestine Women’s Scholarship Fund
https://www.sheffieldpsc.org.uk/?page_id=157
This funds Palestinian women to do Masters and PhDs within Palestine.

Durham Palestine Educational Trust
https://durhampalestine.webspace.durham.ac.uk/scholarships/
Funds occasional post-grad placements in the UK/Durham uni
Run by Bill and Diane Williamson

Gaza Scholarships Initiative (GSI) run by Dr. Nora Parr at Birmingham Uni. Not sure if they're asking for donations but Nora is a literal lifesaver, putting pressure on the government and coordinating over 60 student visas/evacuations last autumn (including those of Sondos and Reem, who Julie had the honour of meeting and working with).
Academics who want to help should definitely get in touch with her if they want to support- we can provide further info if required.

Relief charities

Sheffield PSC Emergency Relief funds:
https://sheffield-palestine-cultural-exchange.org.uk/emergency-relief-fund-updates/
and SPACE:
https://www.sheffieldpsc.org.uk/?page_id=3149
One of the most transparent and efficient ways of supporting relief work in Gaza right now.

MECA (Middle East Childrens Alliance)
https://www.mecaforpeace.org/
Gaza head: Mona El Farra

MAP (Medical Aid for Palestinians)
https://www.map.org.uk/

DEC (Disasters Emergency Committee)
https://www.dec.org.uk/appeal/middle-east-humanitarian-appeal

Save the Children in Gaza
https://www.savethechildren.org.uk/how-you-can-help/emergencies/gaza-crisis

Islamic Relief, Palestine Appeal:
https://www.islamic-relief.org.uk/giving
/appeals/palestine/

Greater Manchester Friends of Palestine
https://gmfriendsofpalestine.org/
[email protected]

https://childrennotnumbers.org/

rachelcorriefoundation.org

The Amnesty silent vigil that Kersh talked about takes place outside Central Library every Friday 5-6pm.

With our love and gratitude
Take Back Team x

POST- SHOW DISCUSSION with Dr. Mona El-Farra - Sunday 22nd March

We will be joined after our final show of My Name is Rachel Corrie on Sunday by Dr. Mona El-Farra for a post-show discussion.

Dr. Mona El-Farra is a human rights activist and dermatologist from Khan Younis, in the Gaza Strip. She is the Director of Gaza Projects for the Middle East Children’s Alliance (Meca) and a former Health Chair of the Palestinian Red Crescent Society of the Gaza Strip.

Through her human rights activism, she has worked alongside many international solidarity activists in Gaza, including Rachel Corrie.

As a member of the Union of Health Work Committees, Dr El-Farra was instrumental in honouring Rachel Corrie’s legacy with the opening of the Rachel Corrie Children’s Centre in Rafah She remains in touch with Rachel’s family in the US.

Come and join us - tickets here:

https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/null/my-name-is-rachel-corrie/e-kqyepd

“Today, we commemorate 23 years since the killing of Rachel Corrie. Rachel was murdered as she attempted to use her body and her privilege to prevent the destruction of the Nasrallah family home in Gaza. On that day, two Israeli soldiers in an armored Caterpillar bulldozer ran over Rachel and stole the life of a young woman who had committed her life to peace and justice.

Rachel represented the very best of the values of the social justice movement. Moved by empathy and solidarity, she refused to be diverted, and demanded attention to the horrors inflicted by the powerful and the wealthy on the displaced and marginalized. Rachel’s actions were motivated by a deep and powerful understanding of solidarity, unity, and collective sacrifice.

Her allegiance to humanity is a reminder to all of us of our relative privilege and our obligation to speak out against injustice no matter the cost. She inspired her parents and so many across the world to commit to a life of activism and agitation to shake up the unbearable status quo. Rachel’s work and her sacrifice continue to serve as our inspiration to fight alongside those who feel forgotten, those who rage against injustice, and those who dream of a kinder, brighter future.”

Text shared from Rachel Corrie Foundation