Raising £25K covering flights, B&B and fees for 12 young people from Palestine to attend Big Hope2 Youth Congress, Liverpool 2018.
Giving young people a voice
In June 2018 Liverpool Hope University is holding a global youth conference called The Big Hope 2. This is a follow-up, a decade on from The Big Hope which was held in Capital of Culture year when Liverpool was the host.
The conference broadly aims to offer the opportunity for young people from diverse backgrounds to come together and explore and debate key issues affecting individuals and societies around the world such as freedom, conflict, equality and change.
Our crowd funding hopes to go one step further. We want to engage young people in Liverpool schools to discuss similar topics, meet others similar in age, and see how they are more similar than they are different.
After the event, we are looking to develop workshops with schools and youth clubs to discuss key topics highlighted at the conference and will hold an exhibition of Liverpool children's input.
Our Story
For many years, student social workers here at Liverpool Hope University have enjoyed the support and hospitality of young people and their families during trips to Palestine as part of our training. We have had the opportunity to listen to their stories, live in their homes and immerse ourselves in their culture on the West Bank.
Life is very challenging for the young people of the West Bank living in extreme material deprivation and struggling without the basic rights and opportunities we are afforded here in the UK. We understand that there is hardship no matter where you live, here in the UK and more specifically in Liverpool children and families struggle.
That's why we want to seize the opportunity to make this visit count, not just to the young people who are coming but for the children of this city. We want to ensure that issues such as geographical location, religion and ethnicity are not applicable and that the young delagates are able to see that they ultimately have far more in common than they do differences.
The Reality
We need to raise £25 000. It is a huge amount of money, but with support we know we can reach our target. Each young person we hope to bring over needs just over £2000 to attend our conference, most of this cost is associated with travel.
As Palestinians are unable to fly out from Palestine directly, we need to arrange safe transportation out of Palestine, through Israel and into Jordan where they can fly to London from Amman. From London, we have to get them up to Liverpool where they will stay for the duration of the conference. Other costs are those of accommodation, food, supervision, activities and conference fees.
How are we going to do it?
We are looking at creating a shining 'Path of Hope'. To create our path, stainless steel jigsaw pieces will be purchased through this crowdfunding site, they will then be laser cut and engraved with a name, a simple message of goodwill or a company logo.
This would be a physical representation of our hopes, goals, the winding course it can take to get there and the simple fact that many pieces of all differing shapes and sizes fitting together make a greater whole.
This pathway will be laid out during the conference so all who attend can see and read the engraved messages of hope, you are supporters would like to offer the youth of today. Although the image above is of colourful jigsaw pieces, and ours of stainless steel it should give an idea of what we are planning.
These jigsaw pieces once purchased will all fit together to create our path....
We are hoping to unite individuals, establishments, organisations and businesses alike to work with us in our cause to ensure that these children have their voices heard at the conference.
Donations for our project start at just £5. £25 donations upwards will include a piece of the path which can be engraved with a personalised message or logo. After the events are over, we can arrange to have your own jigsaw piece delivered to you.
What if we raise more than our target?
Students from Hope are due to travel to Palestine in September of 2018. Any extra money raised will be taken over to Palestine with them and will be used to fund community activities and projects within Hebron.
Donations will also be used to fund the engagement activities planned for young people in Liverpool after the event to promote diversity and inclusion.
How we will reward you.
Each pledge means so much. Each £1 takes us a little closer to our goal.
Please take the time to read our donations and rewards.
All pieces of the path can be posted back to you after they have been used for the Path of Hope.
For businesses and larger donations, we have secured a billboard on a prominent arterial route into Liverpool. Should you wish, we will display your name/logo on our billboard in June 2018 as our way of saying thank you as well as an invitation to attend an event we are holding during the BigHope2. We will also work to mention your donation at any media opportunities as they happen along the way.
Thank you for taking the time to read this appeal, we really do appreciate your consideration. Please feel free to ask any questions and most importantly, please share!
If our project is something you'd like to be involved in, but maybe you would like to donate a different amount please use the following link: