Fourteen-year-old Tasmiya Khan is a grade eight learner with a passion for art which she developed from a very young age. In the past couple of years, she has combined her love of art and creativity with social activism by working together with Salaam Foundation on several projects – the latest of which is a set of bookmarks she has designed.
by Fatima Moosa
The proceeds from the sale of the bookmarks will be used for Salaam Foundation’s fundraising campaign for the #GazaKitchen.
Using her favourite art medium of watercolour painting, Tasmiya initiated several projects through Salaam Foundation in order to fundraise for the various projects.
Her latest efforts saw her designing and painting a set of 5 bookmarks that resonate with Palestinian art and the natural landscape of Palestine. These bookmarks have been put out for sale through various schools and community groups and a substantial amount of funding has already come in to support the #GazaKitchen project.
The feeding programme in northern Gaza caters for close to 100 000 people every month in a region that is facing famine due to Israel’s ongoing war and barbaric attacks.
But it’s not the first time that Tasmiya has assisted Salaam Foundation.
Starting in 2021, when Tasmiya was only in grade five, she designed greeting cards. The cards were a print of a watercolour painting that Tasmiya had created in her art class. The money raised from that project was used to raise funds for Salaam Foundation’s sustainable farming project in South Africa.
During the inception of the LemonAid 1 project in 2021, Tasmiya contributed to the fundraising efforts by selling bookmarks that were designed by her art teacher. The proceeds were used for the Gaza Ambulance Project.
In July 2024, during Al Jazeera English’s coverage of the ongoing genocide in Palestine, the Salaam Foundation #LemonAid ambulance was spotted, continuing to serve the people of Palestine in their time of desperate need. The ambulance was one of three funded through the selling of lemonade, cupcakes and other little things such as the bookmarks that Tasmiya sold.
Another project that Tasmiya assisted on was the Madagascar Emergency Food Aid. In 2021, Madagascar faced a devastating famine as a result of climate change and the worsening effects of global warming. Due to the famine, food security in Madagascar was greatly threatened and Salaam Foundation decided to start a project to send life-saving relief to the country and its people who were in desperate need of the aid. Tasmiya sold eco-friendly products which included a fabric tote bag and eco-friendly stationery to raise funds.
In March 2023, Turkiye and Syria were hit by a devastating earthquake which caused a huge loss of life along with massive infrastructure damage to the region. The earthquake’s radius was in a very mountainous region and it made relief efforts very difficult. Salaam Foundation immediately organised relief efforts with a team heading to Turkiye to assist. Three products were focused on for the efforts which included disaster relief tents, generators and sleeping bags and backpacks. From her side, Tasmiya helped by selling Turkish-themed bookmarks which she designed and organised a colouring competition at her school to raise funds for the earthquake victims.
In all the projects, Tasmiya has coordinated with other young people in her community and/or schools in the community to achieve maximum success.
Support Salaam Foundation’s efforts in Gaza by purchasing a beautiful set of 5 bookmarks for just R100.
Each bookmark is a print of an original artwork designed by a very talented, grade 8 learner.
All funds donated will go towards Salaam Foundation’s #GazaKitchen
Bookmarks can be purchased via Whatsapp – 078 382 2966 (text only)
or from:
Payments may be made directly to
Salaam Foundation
FNB
62669147665
Branch: 250. 737
Ref: TK + your name
Pop to be sent to the number above.
If your school would like to be part of this initiative, please contact 0721228400
