Voices for Hope: A Benefit for Women in Afghanistan
byOn November 27, 2021, local female artists will perform at the Cultch’s historic theatre in Vancouver for Voices for Hope: A Benefit for Women in Afghanistan to help raise funds for at-risk women and girls in response to the crisis in Afghanistan.
Voices for Hope
- When: Saturday, November 27, 2021 at 7:30pm
- Where: The Cultch (1895 Venables St. Vancouver)
- Tickets: Available online now
Voices for Hope will feature live performances by Afro-Canadian and Cherokee blues singer Dalannah Gail Bowen and hip hop, soul, and R&B duo Laydy Jams. Bowen, often referred to as the “matriarch of Canadian blues,” was a member of the Feminine Touch—one of the first all-female bands in Canada. The artist and activist was awarded the Key to the City in 2017 for her contributions to culture in Vancouver. Laydy Jams is comprised of femcee Missy D and violinist-vocalist Sejal, two women of colour who find inspiration in their diverse cultural backgrounds to create a unique sonic blend that aims to empower youth and spark joy.
The beneficiary of funds raised from Voices for Hope is Canadian Women for Women in Afghanistan (“CW4WAfghan”), a charitable organization with a longstanding history of promoting the human rights of Afghan women and girls through access to education, and now, in response to the current humanitarian crisis, distribution of basic necessities to internally displaced people, and assistance with efforts to provide safe passage for refugees.
100% of proceeds from Voices for Hope’s concert ticket sales and audience donations will go towards financing efforts to support women fleeing Afghanistan and CW4WAfghan’s educational programs. Custom-made Dither & Etch ornaments will also be available for purchase in addition to an online silent auction.
“When we see a small, barefoot girl in a crumbling classroom who comes from a family where no-one can read or write, we don’t see a victim—we see a child poised to fight for her right to be there, burning for change,” says Lauryn Oates, Executive Director of Canadian Women for Women in Afghanistan. “If she gets the tools to learn, the guidance of trained teachers, and awareness that even outsiders are prepared to defend her, she will prove to be everything the Taliban fear: a defiant, smart, imaginative, and even revolutionary leader.”
Proof of vaccination is required for in-show attendance at the Historic Theatre in compliance with BC’s COVID-19 public health regulations. Voices for Hope will also be livestreamed for maximum accessibility.
About Canadian Women for Women in Afghanistan
Operating in Afghanistan since 1998, Canadian Women for Women in Afghanistan works in partnership with Afghan women and communities to advance human rights, gender equality, and peace-building through access to quality education for women and girls. The charity and non-profit engages Canadians as global citizens to work in solidarity with Afghans in order to raise awareness and create opportunities for women and girls to live with dignity, certainty, and purpose.
