Hello friends,
I hope this email finds you well. I have been preparing for a show that means a lot to me, and hopefully to you too. It’s called Hanzala, based on the iconic cartoon of the Palestinian child that was created by the late Naji al-Ali. The show includes live music, cartoon animation, sufi dance, and more.
Naji created Hanzala in 1969. He worked actively to bring awareness to humanitarian and social justice issues through Hanzala. Naji was assassinated in London in 1987. His work is sadly still relevant decades later, as children in Gaza today haunt the images he created that still resonate. We wish to honor his struggle for liberation & his talent, while celebrating our cultural heritage through myriad expressions.
There are many aims for this project, all centered around awareness, community, and healing. And we’ve been blessed by the support of many, including Naji al-Ali’s son, Khaled, who’s providing us with cartoons in high resolution.
When we started working on this project, the calculated budget was at $7.5k, which would have made us break even given that we raised $3,000 from friends already + feel confident we will sell 150 tickets at $35 each. But the expenses since then increased and we are now at $14,500, most going to the rental fee of the new venue and documenting the project which we aim to present all over the US (starting with MI and DC). This first presentation is crucial in my opinion to open the door for future opportunities.
So we need to raise $7,000 more. And I’m reaching out to you to help us with that! If you are inclined to support, then please visit this page: https://givebutter.com/t7H1Nj. If you can’t but know someone who would resonate with this project, please pass along!
With love,
Hadi
Dearborn Blog 