SOS is a global organisation which gives children who have lost their families a good start in life, a new sense of home and family. The people from SOS believe all children are equal and deserve the best- whatever religious or cultural background they may come from. I support this wholeheartedly. Its particularly valuable in a country which has suffered from conflict and persistent sectarian divides. If children can find common grounds through free expression in art and music, their future will be much brighter.
I organised a series of art workshops with children from all 4 SOS children's villages in Lebanon (from the North- Kfarhay, Centre- Bhersaf, South-Sferai and Bekaa Valley- Ksarnaba). We were based in the central and original village at Bhersaf in the Metn. I encouraged the children to paint the essential characteristics of natural and human life in Lebanon.
We then moved on to a large collective painting- which all children took part in. The idea is to join together to create a beautiful and true vision of their country (with all of its contradictions and variety), and learn how to work as a team.
The British Ambassador Tom Fletcher visited the project on October 18th and contributed to the painting, whilst I played trombone and taught the children how to play it.
I will exhibit the collective painting- along with the children's preparatory sketches- at my exhibition 'Fairground' at the British Embassy Residence in November 2013. All proceeds from the sale of the children's work, and 20% of my sales will go to the children, and also help fund/raise awareness for SOS's project to establish a new school for Syrian Refugee Children in the Bekaa Valley.
We filmed the project. The film will be put on Youtube so that the children will always have access to their work and the beautiful time we had together.
