Direct Aid For Yezidi in Kurdistan
Donation protected
Hello Friends and Supporters,
Last year on August 3rd one of the most endangered cultures on the planet, the Mesopotamian Yezidi, came under direct attack by political extremists. In what is being called the greatest humanitarian crisis of our generation by leaders in the UN, 85% of the indigenous Yezidi population was uprooted in a massacre that was so sudden and so fast, that damage can still not be calculated.
As director of The Cabiri I've made my life's work the preservation of cultures that are endangered or extinct. Often you have seen my work onstage. For the first time in over a decade, I am returning to the field.
Since August I have lobbied congress, created networks and begun some small fundraising. But upon completion of my work with The Cabiri this year, I responded to a plea for help and am traveling to Kurdistan to assist on the ground with education, logistics, information gathering and direct aid.
While I am here, I am primarily working with small refugee communities. The NGO's have been doing excellent work, but they have been overwhelmed and at least a fifth - (this "overflow" is probably close to the population of a small american city) - of the refugees are being cared for in homes and by local town community organizations. Heroic efforts are everywhere, but they are not getting their needs met at this time.
While I am here, I have ideal opportunities to deliver direct aid to the people who have slipped through the cracks. Following in the footsteps of my friend and ally Amy Beam, I am establishing an emergency fund to bring aid to the individuals who need it most.
By the streamlined nature of this project, 100% of the donations will go to refugees needs. I am staying with Yezidi families and refugees for most of my time here. This is a volunteer mission for me, trip expenses have been covered by my savings and a small collective of private donors.
The Yezidi are an endangered culture. Unique, with origins that can be traced back to prehistoric times, they are a treasure that needs to be preserved from this chaos. The Yezidi did nothing to warrant this destruction, help us give them a hand in their struggle to survive.
You can keep track of my progress as I publish a journal at the Seattle Star ( http://www.seattlestar.net/author/jsmurphy/ ) and give small video summaries on my youtube channel ( http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCv-u8SnXWtObAVv63uYyrng ).
With love from Kurdistan,
John Murphy
Artistic Director, The Cabiri
Last year on August 3rd one of the most endangered cultures on the planet, the Mesopotamian Yezidi, came under direct attack by political extremists. In what is being called the greatest humanitarian crisis of our generation by leaders in the UN, 85% of the indigenous Yezidi population was uprooted in a massacre that was so sudden and so fast, that damage can still not be calculated.
As director of The Cabiri I've made my life's work the preservation of cultures that are endangered or extinct. Often you have seen my work onstage. For the first time in over a decade, I am returning to the field.
Since August I have lobbied congress, created networks and begun some small fundraising. But upon completion of my work with The Cabiri this year, I responded to a plea for help and am traveling to Kurdistan to assist on the ground with education, logistics, information gathering and direct aid.
While I am here, I am primarily working with small refugee communities. The NGO's have been doing excellent work, but they have been overwhelmed and at least a fifth - (this "overflow" is probably close to the population of a small american city) - of the refugees are being cared for in homes and by local town community organizations. Heroic efforts are everywhere, but they are not getting their needs met at this time.
While I am here, I have ideal opportunities to deliver direct aid to the people who have slipped through the cracks. Following in the footsteps of my friend and ally Amy Beam, I am establishing an emergency fund to bring aid to the individuals who need it most.
By the streamlined nature of this project, 100% of the donations will go to refugees needs. I am staying with Yezidi families and refugees for most of my time here. This is a volunteer mission for me, trip expenses have been covered by my savings and a small collective of private donors.
The Yezidi are an endangered culture. Unique, with origins that can be traced back to prehistoric times, they are a treasure that needs to be preserved from this chaos. The Yezidi did nothing to warrant this destruction, help us give them a hand in their struggle to survive.
You can keep track of my progress as I publish a journal at the Seattle Star ( http://www.seattlestar.net/author/jsmurphy/ ) and give small video summaries on my youtube channel ( http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCv-u8SnXWtObAVv63uYyrng ).
With love from Kurdistan,
John Murphy
Artistic Director, The Cabiri
Organizer
John Murphy
Organizer
Seattle, WA
