Our crowdfund campaign has finished, for those who still want to support - we are still receiving Paypal donations.
Donate here: paypal.me/goldandashes
Gold & Ashes
We hope to highlight the humanity and courage of this beautiful community by creating a photo book sharing survivor stories and intimate memories of loved ones.
The photographs and stories documented over the next year will be a part of an exhibition hosted in time for the third year anniversary. We are inviting you to be part of this journey.
All profits made from the Gold & Ashes photo book will go towards supporting mental and emotional wellbeing services for the Grenfell community.
This project is supported by Grenfell United, The Kensington & Chelsea Foundation, Candour Creatives and Westway Trust.
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What we are fundraising for
To bring this vision to life we are looking to crowdfund £20,000. This will be used to:
1) Print the photo book (including production, post production costs and language translations)
2) Host a week long exhibition (including venue hire, programming, printing exhibition prints etc.) in time for the third year anniversary of the Grenfell tragedy.
3) Design the Gold and Ashes website hosting all the stories we capture (including video content).
Feruza's story
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Photography by Tara Leigh
My name is Feruza Afewerki and I am a photographer and creative director. I was born in Eritrea and moved to London in 1996 with my family when I was 3. My connection to Grenfell is one of deep love and loss.
Amal Ahmedin was my big sister and one of the most vibrant, stylish and loving people I knew growing up. She lived life to the full. Her infectious joy lit up any room and she lived to see those around her thriving and happy. Her door and heart were always open. Throughout her life she learned to speak six languages because she was always making new friends.
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5 years ago, my family was blessed with a new addition, her daughter Amaya Tuccu. My niece was a creative spirit and 3 years old when her life was cut short. She lived with her parents on the 19th floor of Grenfell Tower. When they moved into their apartment, they began creating a home of joyful memories and this is where they lost their lives on June 14th 2017.
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Their lives have inspired me to honour and document the memories of our loved ones, the innocent lives that ended on that night. We as a community are different because of what we’ve walked through. But, we’re still here - a living memorial of what was lost so that their lives are never forgotten. The depth of loss eludes to the depth of love we have experienced. We hold them in our hearts forever and are witnessing the legacy and imprint they have left on our lives.
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The journey I have begun with the Gold and Ashes project has been part of my personal healing process. It has enabled me to connect with others who have experienced the same loss and wish to see more done for their loved one’s memories. While this injustice has caused much hopelessness and anger in a time of grief, this beautiful, diverse and unified community have picked up the pieces and are rebuilding from the ruins with such dignity and love. From campaigning, volunteering their time and looking out for one another.
Wellbeing
When the unimaginable happens there is no manual on how to navigate a path overshadowed in tragedy. As I walk through my own healing and support from a trauma therapist, I’ve become more passionate about raising awareness for trauma aftercare and making professional, holistic support more accessible to assist in building people up along their journey of healing.
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Risks & Challenges
My team of volunteer collaborators hope to create a space for these incredible voices to be heard and stories to be told but we know that a project as complex and nuanced as this means we could never tell the whole story.
Other Ways You Can Help
Share this crowdfund and video with your friends and family!
