Events
Coffee Morning and Bake Sale
Crystal Palace Friends of Palestine Coffee Morning and Bake Sale
Join us on Monday 4th May (bank holiday!) for a coffee morning raising funds for Hope and Play charity.
Come for coffee, cake, and community - all welcome!
Photographic Archives from Palestine
During this talk on historic photographic archives from Palestine from 1900 to 1970, we will reflect on how photographic archives can be understood in contexts of war, genocide and oppression. We will make links between historic photography and the current context and the role of photography in the present.
Upper Norwood Library, 39 Westow Hill, SE19 1TQ
Sunday 26 April, 4-6.15 pm
The event will be free to attend, but spaces limited so please book your place here.
Screening of ‘Everybody to Kenmure St’
Sunday 12 April, 4pm: Screening of ‘Everybody to Kenmure St’ at West Norwood Picture House
Glasgow residents abandon their daily routines to gather at Kenmure Street after learning authorities plan to deport their neighbours, sparking an impromptu grassroots protest. The screening will include a panel discussion after the film.
While CPFP’s focus remains firmly on Palestine, we are keen to support this screening, both because it’s about the power of community activism, but also because we hope it to be the first in a series of documentary films, including Palestinian films, to be screened at the PictureHouse. You can book tickets (£5) here.
Hope and Play in Palestine
Crystal Palace Friends of Palestine recently made the decision to focus on fundraising for Hope and Play.
Our event on Thursday is a great opportunity to hear first-hand from co-founder Iyas AlQasem about the vital work they are doing to bring hope, play, art and education to children in Gaza. Iyas will share more about their projects and can answer your questions.
We will also be joined by friends who will talk about time they have recently spent in Palestine and displaced Palestinians in Egypt.
St John the Evangelist Church, Community Hall, 1 Sylvan Rd, SE19 2RX
Thursday 9 April, 6pm - doors open for Palestinian food and the chance to talk to friends and supporters, visit our stalls and raffle.
From 7-9pm - speakers and discussion.
This event is completely free but you’ll need to book to secure your place and you can pre-order delicious Palestinian food to enjoy on the night. You can do that here.
Palestinian Land Day @ Crystal Kabinett
Palestinian Land Day, Monday 30 March
Join us at the site of the Crystal Kabinett on Monday 30 March to celebrate Palestinian Land Day:
Crystal Kabinett, Crystal Palace Parade, SE19 1UD
Monday 30 March, from 4pm, to help paint part of an ongoing art installation. At 6pm a speaker from CPFP will talk about Palestinian Land Day, followed by a reading from poet, Hafiza Ibrahim.
Education Session: What was British involvement in Palestine?
Thursday 5 March, 6.30pm: What was British involvement in Palestine?
Join us to explore the history and why it matters today, through discussion and analysis of the issues raised by the film: PALESTINE 36
Free to attend but booking required. You can book here
For those who haven't yet seen it, Palestine 36 can be watched at home online: YouTube from £3.49.
The bar will be open, with two special dishes on offer: Za’tar chickpeas with fermented chilli salad-smoked potatoes & naan; and Za’tar roasted chicken with fermented chilli salad-smoked potatoes & naan
This event is the first in CPFP's new education and training programme, postponed from the original planned date in February.
Leo's, 299 Kirkdale, Sydenham – a three-minute walk from Sydenham station.
Thursday March 5th. Doors open 6.30pm. Discussion 7.00pm – 8.30pm.
Life under occupation: A guide to cultural survival
Join Crystal Palace Friends of Palestine on Tuesday 10 February for an evening of conversation with brothers George and Nidal Rishmawhi, cultural, historical and walking guides from Beit Sahour in Bethlehem. Hear George and Nidal’s first hand experiences of life in Palestine and the cultural impact of Israeli occupation.
Tuesday 10 February, 6.30-8.30pm
Brown and Green Life Café, Crystal Palace Park, SE20 8DS
Bar open for drinks. Food – hotboxes £13 - for preorder.
Free to attend but booking required.
https://www.outsavvy.com/event/33331/walking-palestine-cultural-heritage-and-life-under-occupation
All That's Left of You Screening and Director Q&A
Crystal Palace Friends of Palestine are pleased to announce an exclusive screening of the award-winning film ‘All That’s Left of You’ at West Norwood Picturehouse on Thursday 5th February at 7.30pm.
The film will be followed by a Q&A with the director Cherien Dabis, hosted by Dr. Ghada Karmi, a Palestinian physician, academic, and writer whose life and work have been deeply influenced by the experience of displacement and the Palestinian national struggle.
Buy tickets here: All That’s Left Of You: West Norwood Picturehouse
All That’s Left of You: A Palestinian couple finds hope and courage in the midst of relentless struggle as they face an extraordinary life decision that will change their family's destiny.
Palestine at the Palace: A Night for Palestine
CPFP hosts an evening of resistance and remembrance, featuring Dyarr, a collective of Arab creatives, and our own Hafiza Ibrahim.
📍St John the Evangelist Church, 1 Sylvan Road, Upper Norwood, SE19 2RX.
⏰Doors open 6.30pm. Stalls with handmade Palestinian crafts, produce and snacks. Music from 7.30pm.
Tickets from £20: https://www.outsavvy.com/organiser/crystal-palace-friends-of-palestine
https://www.instagram.com/we_are_dyarr/
Proceeds will help bring the Daughters of Jerusalem, a powerful all-female choir, direct from the West Bank, to perform in London on 1 November as part of a full-day event showcasing the best of Palestinian music and culture. Watch this space...
Coffee morning for PalMusic
Join Crystal Palace Friends of Palestine on Sunday 13 April from 10am to12 midday at Leo Community Cafe in Sydenham where we shall be raising money for PalMusic's Gaza Emergency Fund.
If you've been to a CPFP fundraiser before, you will already know that we support PalMusic the UK Ambassadors for the Edward Said National Conservatory of Music in Palestine. The Gaza branch of the conservatory was targeted by Israeli airstrikes, the building destroyed and its students and teachers displaced. Your support will help us raise much needed funds for those students and teachers.
There'll be coffee and cakes, a literary themed raffle and the opportunity to catch up and mingle with likeminded souls. Raffle prizes will include goodie bags and bundles including books by Palestinian and local authors, coveted bars of original Dubai chocolate, Lush watermelon soaps and assorted sweet things.
We are looking forward to seeing you all.
If you can't make the coffee morning you can still buy raffle tickets (£1 each) by clicking on this link.
Palestine at the Palace: Kids Culture Day
Palestine at the Palace for kids was held on 1st June at the Pheonix Centre, Upper Norwood. We had an impressive turnout of over 250 children and their families, all wanting to learn about and support Palestine.
Our mission was to inform, educate and raise awareness about Palestine in a child-friendly way. Our team of educators, artists and parents put on a diverse array of crafting activities, including printing of birds in dedication to the lost children of Gaza, silk painting with artists Samia Tossio and Dina Sawalha, and traditional storytelling with Palestinian actor and director Elias Mattar.
Our heritage hub, a traditionally styled story-telling tent and dressing up area attracted lots of interest. We are indebted to our member Elise for curating the hub and producing such engaging information on Palestinian symbolism, a thread running through each and every one of our crafting activities.
Another CPFP member Zoe, a primary school teacher, led on education: bite size, hand-written educational messages were displayed on walls around the hall, along with information about famous Palestinians.
In the dressing up area, a display board on Palestinian traditional costume explained the history of the thobe and the meaning behind tatreez designs. Some antique Palestinian headdresses were also on show. Our volunteers Um Abed made the beautiful boys’ costumes, and Laila ran the exhibition and dressing up area.
Our day would not have been complete without some retail therapy! Palestinian businesses who joined us on the day included Chachoulie, Saffron & Honey, Sweets Habibi and Maqam Books. Special thanks to Rima from Chachoulie who made and gave away free balloon displays, and for her generous donations to the raffle.
Finally, congratulations to 5-year old Mara who won ‘Lubna the Gazan doll,’ the first prize in our raffle. Lubna was made by 'Madeena the doll' project in Jordan. It is heartening that Mara will learn about Palestinian heritage through the doll, the doll she described as ‘Queen of the Kingdom’. We dedicated the doll to Lubna Alyaan, an aspiring violinist at the Edward Said National Conservatory of Music in Gaza, who was tragically killed, along with her entire family, in an Israeli bombardment. She was 14 years old at the time.
CPFP is indebted to the organising committee who worked tirelessly over several months to host this event. Their commitment and enthusiasm knows no bounds! Thank you, Maysoon, Marnie, Elise, Donna, Lisa, Susie, Shahada, Isobel, and Zoe. Thank you also to our legions of volunteers who helped on the day.
Stand up for Palestine
Our sold out event at Croydon Football Club in May, featured a range of talented artists. Wissam Boustani, internationally renowned flautist opened with 'And The Wind Whispered', which sees our fragile planet from the perspective of the wind that travels across the globe oblivious to the borders that separate humanity.
Then we heard virtuoso violinist, Bassel Harari’s Arab fusion music, embodying the refugee experience and his own migration, as an exile.
Hafiza Ibrahim, Palestinian poet and refugee, performed three of her poems- ‘Gaza’, ‘A Handful of Sand’ and ‘I shall Return’, illustrating the indomitable spirit of the Palestinian people in the face of decades-long injustice.
Maddy Carty sang a selection of songs including ‘How the Hell can You Call This a War’ conveying the brutality of Israeli genocide. Joe Haddad, a Palestinian comedian, skilfully shifted the mood to comedy, relating stories of his upbringing in South London. Mark Thomas, a long-time supporter of the Palestinian cause, headlined. Mark's set combined comedy with his usual political activism. We offer huge thanks to the artists for their generosity, and to Ian Ashby for his 'donation’ of the venue.
The event raised £2,000 for PalMusic's Gaza emergency fund.
Palestine Training
On Saturday 6 April 2024, Crystal Palace Friends of Palestine organised a day of knowledge building and communications training for almost 30 South London activists. The training was facilitated by Makan, a UK based, Palestinian-led education organisation that strengthens voices for Palestinian rights.
Our day consisted of a morning session on the history of the Palestinian struggle and an interactive afternoon session of communications and debate training focusing on the main topics of conversation around Palestine. We were joined on the day by activists from Lambeth and Wandsworth PSC, Merton PSC, Croydon PSC as well as members of our local community who want to be better equipped to raise awareness about the Palestinian struggle. We emerged well prepared for our future activities and with stronger links to other local Palestine groups.
Coffee Morning in aid of PalMusic emergency fund
On Sunday 3 March, CPFP hosted a coffee morning at the Paxton Centre in Crystal Palace to raise funds for PalMusic, the UK ambassador for the Edward Said National Conservatory of Music (ESNCM). CPFP has previously raised funds for PalMusic to provide music bursaries for children in Gaza.
In January, we learned that the ESNCM in Gaza had been partially bombed, and what remained had been vandalised by the Israeli armed forces. Instruments, educational resources and sheet music were all damaged and destroyed. Thankfully, however, Gaza’s only grand piano has been spared and remains unscathed within the shell of the building. The school’s teachers and pupils were not so lucky. All have been displaced and Lubna Alyaan, a 14-year old violin protégé, tragically lost her life, along with around 50 members of her family, after her family home was bombed.
There was huge support and a great turnout for the fundraiser. We were pleased to see many new faces who, appalled by the genocide being perpetrated by Israel, turned up to support us. On the day, we raised £700 for PalMusic which will support the teachers and students in Gaza who have been displaced.
Vigils for Gaza
Since October 2023, CPFP has held monthly vigils at Vicar’s Oak to remember the victims of the genocide being committed by Israel against the Palestinian people in Gaza. Our vigils have been an opportunity for the community to come together, to grieve and to give support to local people who have lost loved ones. We have been joined by local musicians, poets, singers and activists who have performed and spoken in solidarity with our Palestinian brothers and sisters in Gaza.
During our most recent vigil in February, we focused on the Palestinian journalists murdered by Israel, by far the highest number of media workers killed this century in any conflict. Despite the bitter cold, rain and wind, we had a large number of attendees who joined us under our gazebos for hot mint tea, poetry, song and speeches.
We heard the moving testimony of Gazan playwright and artistic director, Ahmed Najar, whose beloved grandmother was murdered by Israel and whose extended family are trapped in Northern Gaza; we heard the important message of Dave Cannon of the anti-Zionist Jewish Network for Palestine who spoke about the importance of Jewish solidarity with Palestine. We had rousing songs of solidarity from the Strawberry Thieves Socialist Choir and Lizzie Shirley, as well as a poignant reading by nine-year-old Ariana, entitled ‘Every Child Matters’. We also heard poetry written by Hafiza Ibrahim in Arabic and performed in translation by Maysoon Delahunty.
Our candles lit up the street, spelling out ‘Save Rafah’ and our Palestinian flags fluttered in the wind, bringing love, solidarity and shared grief to Crystal Palace. We shall continue to come together and support each other for as long as this brutal genocide continues.
Palestine at the Palace
Join Crystal Palace Friends of Palestine on Saturday 2 September 2023 for a celebration of Palestinian culture, art, crafts, food and music.
The day will include an exhibition / sale of affordable art, a live oud performance, traditional food in our themed cafe and the opportunity to pick up some fabulous bargains from Palestinian businesses in the UK. There will be ceramics, jewellery, embroidery, keffiyehs, fairtrade produce and much, much more.
Think Palestine is “complicated” and all about “conflict”? Think again! Join us on 2 September and find out more about the Palestinian struggle for liberation through its wonderful and vibrant culture.
Women’s Institute Talk on Palestine
In November 2022, Crystal Palace Friends of Palestine arranged for Diana Safieh, daughter of Palestinian diplomat, Afif Safieh, to speak to the Penge and Palace Women’s Institute.
Diana related her own personal story and drew on anecdotes from her father's career as a Palestinian diplomat. She told the women of Penge and Palace about her family's dispossession in 1948, about her father losing his right to return to his homeland after the 1967 war, and of Israel's continuous violations of international law.
Diana also gave striking contemporary examples of the daily struggles of the Palestinian people and their resilience living under Israeli occupation.
We were pleased to have the opportunity to bring Palestinian history and current realities to an audience of local women who were keen to learn more.
Palestinian Party
On Sunday 11 September 2022, Crystal Palace Friends of Palestine held its first public, cultural event, a Palestinian garden party.
Guests were treated to delicious Palestinian food and Manchester based duo, Gazelleband, provided rousing resistance music on the day.
We raffled hampers stuffed full of quality Palestinian produce donated by chef Sami Tamimi, Elbustan Palestinian Shop, Zaytoun, and Crystal Palace Candles. The money raised has been donated to UK charity PalMusic to provide musical activities and education for children living in the besieged Gaza Strip.