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What it's all about
Every year a charity called WEZIMBABWE hold a festival (ZIMFEST) in London to raise funds which attracts Zimbabweans from all over the uk. http://www.wezimbabwe.org/about-us.aspx
It's a WONDERFUL cause and helps a lot of people.........HOWEVER- it doesn't as yet address the needs of those who find themselves still in, perhaps not so much in financial, but rather emotional turmoil that still has not been resolved sometimes YEARS after incidents that have happened in Zimbabwe.
Year after year I go back and amongst all the merry, singing, dancing bodies I see sad, weepy faces slumped and unoticed.
I want to DO SOMETHING to help, however I don't think ZIMFEST is the time or place for mourning and counselling.
Festivals meant to be FUN and any feelings of resentment, bereavement etc should be channelled in a POSITIVE and healing way.
My idea is to create a billboard sized upright postcard with an outline of zimbabwe and inside the words "wish you were here" or "thinking of you" or something along those lines.
We would have lots of used paper that is destined to be recycled, some staplers and some scissors (OR my friend WHO'S AN ORIGAMI MASTER!) at hand.
People would go into a tents (alone, with a friend or with a volunteer) to think about who they miss and CREATE something (eg an animal/flower/anything that springs to mind) for them or to write a message on the back of a template which would be pinned blank side up.
They may get emotional but the idea is to put all those negative feelings into an inanimate object or into writing so that when they pin it up with a "To:...From:..." label and they can go back to the festival and their lives at PEACE with fond rather than painful memories.
ART THERAPY: Using the media of the arts to provide release of symbolic expression
What's needed to make it a reality
WEZIMBABWE have already said they are interested. I need to assemble a volunteer team (although there is time for that as Zimfest is only on September the 5th) and find a scource for used paper-I'm sure in London that won't be TOO hard :)
I ALSO NEED FUNDING FOR THIS UPRIGHT POSTCARD....I have NO IDEA how I'm going to do it. I will get in touch with an advertising company or surf the web to see what is on offer and if I can find a cheaper way to do it. (I will keep you posted!)
Comments
It's great to see you've got another idea on Junction49 and a truly great one at that. This is so new and innovative and it's great to see you're applying your degree as well. I completely agree that festivals are places to have fun and I think your idea would be the perfect way to turn something which might be quite sad into something positive and ensure that everyone has a good time!
You sound like you want to be really resourceful too, and I think your billboard will look amazing once finished with all the different colours and different bits of recycled paper.
For the billboard sized poster, I was thinking what you could maybe do is get a massive bit of MDF perhaps and then create some sort of wooden base/stand to prop it up. Do you think that would work? Also for materials you could try going to your nearest Scrapstore, there's one in Richmond which you might be able to go to and you can get everything for free or at least for a small donation. Here's the link to it below:
http://www.richmond.gov.uk/home/environment/rubbish_waste_and_recycling/reduce_and_reuse/scrapstore_scheme.htm
There were a number of other projects which took place at Derby which I think needed to get big boards to display their projects so it might worth getting in touch to find out what they did, how much and where from? Jo might be able to help you out with that too. Here's a link to all the projects below:
http://www.junction49.co.uk/idea/1887/the_h_campaign/
http://www.junction49.co.uk/idea/1816/_street_voice_/
http://www.junction49.co.uk/idea/1987/studentship_art_workshop/
As you know Junction49 is where young people can develop their own ideas for positive change in the community and students who wish to develop a voluntary project to benefit the community can access up to £750 to turn your idea into a reality before the end of July this year. Derby is one of 12 Universities who are taking part in the scheme where students can access funding, training and support from your Volunteer Support Officer (Jo) to help you get your project up and running.
Check out:
http://www.junction49.co.uk/university/44/university_of_derby/
As this event is taking place in September you may not be eligible for this funding, in which case I will do some research to find out if there is anywhere you can apply to get you a bit of funding for the event. Would WEZIMBABWE help you out at all with material costs? You never know if you're using recycled paper and if you can get some wood/board for free you might find you don't need much funding :-)
Let us know how you get on and how we can further support you in turning this idea into reality :-)
Sarah
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I can ask WEZIMBABWE but I'd rather find other scources if I can, people already get really suspicious about WHERE charity money goes to.
If knews gets out that money has gone to a non-profit project that ISN'T anything to do with poor zimbabweans it could give them a really bad rep.
But I'll ask once I know prices,
Ta very much Sarah,
hugz
Shelley
P.S. I am due to hand in 4 assignments soon so won't be doin any major searching yet, just wanted to put my idea up while it was still fresh on my mind x Report Abuse
No worries, glad the advice was useful. Let us know if you need any help once you do start doing the research etc...
Good luck for your assignments.
Sarah Report Abuse
This new idea sounds like a very worthwhile one, please come and see me if you think I can be of any help. If it takes place in September, the funding may not still be available although the SU may be able to support you in doing this anyway (if there aren't any major costs involved!)
See you around. Jo Report Abuse
Be back on track with this stuff soon x Report Abuse
I know you're really busy with exams/coursework etc... at the moment, but just find out about this scheme at B+Q and thought it might be useful for you for your big board etc... They basically give out donations of waste material to schools/community groups, so you might be able to find something. I think all you have to do is go into a store and fill out a form.
http://www.diy.com/diy/jsp/bq/templates/content_lookup.jsp?content=/aboutbandq/social_responsibility_2007/waste_donation.jsp&menu=aboutbandq Report Abuse
Not to worry, if you want to do something similar as a separate event that you set up yourself, maybe another event at Derby if you're still there next year, we're more than happy to support you in doing this, just let us know.
Sarah Report Abuse
I think we should get together to do something like this anyway, maybe later on in the year when you're back in Derby? We could do an awareness-raiser, or even a fund-raiser....
Speak to you in September - happy Summer!!
Jo
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