On December 1 2024, Salaam Foundation held the Echoes of Innocence tribute at the Wits Linder Auditorium. The event brought together learners with disabilities from schools around Gauteng in tribute to the children of Palestine. December 3 is marked nationally and internationally as the Day of Persons with Disabilities and the event provided a platform for the learners to display their talents and abilities.
The event was organised with the aim of raising funds for Salaam Foundation’s Palestine Response project. Salaam Foundation has been working in Palestine for a while and the most recent project has been focused on the Gaza Kitchen which feeds thousands of families monthly. The Gaza Kitchen which began in March 2024 has been feeding families who come to the “kitchen” to collect food. A delivery service was also started to get food to displaced families who are unable to come to the kitchen. Despite the massive difficulties, the kitchen has continued to operate through the efforts of the brave partners teams.
The day of the tribute was a warm and sunny one in Johannesburg. Attendees were greeted with a unique initiative which they were invited to engage in. A call had been sent-out by the Salaam Foundation team inviting all to send in their artwork and letters to the children of Palestine. The letters and artworks were meant to be used to express solidarity and inspire hope to the people of Palestine. The initiative was aimed at inspiring hope and solidarity across borders. There was a resounding response and many beautiful, powerful and heartbreaking artworks were sent in. The artworks were displayed in the walkway to the auditorium as well as in the auditorium foyer where attendees could browse around and view all of the artworks as well purchase some of the specially designed Palestinian apparel. All of the proceeds from the sales of the items will also be going to the Palestine Response Project.
The programme began with a beautiful qirat/rendition of the Holy Quraan by two of the participants. After that the event proceeded with various items including the singing of the national anthem which got the entire crowd joining in with the emotional rendition. The programme included nasheeds performances, speeches, plays and more from the various schools.
Meet the organisations involved in the “Echoes of Innocence” tribute
Along with the performances of the schools, there was a keynote discussion between Palestinian content creator and journalist Ahmad Ghunaim from Gaza and journalist and writer, Qaanitah Hunter. Illustrator and author Nathi Ngubane had the audience wowed with a drawing demonstration while Margaret Auerbach from Spellbound Puppets had the audience laughing and learning with her puppet show. Nasheed artists Qari Ziyaad Patel and Waleed Bata had the audience captivated with a performance of a nasheed.
Echoes of Innocence Keynote featuring Qaanitah Hunter in conversation with Ahmed Ghunaim
The event ended with all the performances coming up onto the stage for a final performance to Maher Zain’s Free Palestine with a strong message of solidarity being sent from the performers.
The event was a packed one with a number of emotional performances – all sending a message of solidarity from the children of South African to the people of Palestine.
Fatima Sookharia, co-director of Salaam Foundation said: “Giving children with disabilities, that otherwise never get this opportunity, a public platform to showcase their talents while doing this for a worthy cause really shows that every person can take a stand against the oppression and genocide going on in Gaza. We at Salaam Foundation feel honoured to have hosted such an event.”
