Why We Chose Gaza And How You Can Too

Why our family is supporting culture, hope and healing through theatre and the arts in Gaza.

Each year my family choses to make a significant annual investment in a charity that's doing good for humanity and/or the environment. This year we've chosen to invest $5,000 to support young people in Gaza through a partnership between the Basma Society for Culture and Arts and Australia's Indigo Foundation.

There are no shortage of worthy causes in the world. Here at home, people struggling with homelessness, mental health challenges, domestic violence and the impacts of climate change. Threatened species hanging on by a thread. Communities recovering from floods, fires and droughts.

But each year we try to find at least one international project that speaks to our values and where a relatively modest contribution can make a meaningful difference. This year, that project is Basma.

At first glance, supporting theatre and the arts in Gaza might seem like an unusual priority. When people are facing war, displacement, hunger and uncertainty, surely there are more urgent needs The answer is that people need both. Yes, food, water, shelter and medical care are essential. But human beings also need hope. We need opportunities to express ourselves, process grief, tell stories and imagine a future beyond survival.

In Arabic, Basma means smile. And the Basma Society’s project does exactly that. Through the Indigo Foundation partnership, over the next year, young women and men in Gaza will receive training in community theatre, creative expression and psychosocial support. Participants will then form theatre groups that take performances into schools, shelters, residential communities and displacement camps, bringing culture and connection to people who’ve lost so much. 

Bombs dropped by the IDF on Gaza destroyed Basma's facilities, but not its hope, creativity or commitment to young people. Part of this project is about helping Basma rebuild - not just it's rooms and equipment, but cultural spaces where young people can gather, create, heal and imagine a positive future again.

When culture is strengthened, people are strengthened. Stories matter. Art matters. Language matters. Connection matters. Culture can't stop a war or genocide. But it can help people survive and recover.

One of the reasons I like investing through the Indigo Foundation is that everything it does is locally led. The work is being designed and delivered by people in Gaza, for people in Gaza. The role of Indigo Foundation is to support local leaders, local knowledge and local solutions, rather than imposing outside answers. That approach aligns strongly with the way we work at Lyrebird Dreaming.

Sometimes global problems can feel so large that we become paralysed. Climate change. Biodiversity loss. Conflict. Inequality. We wonder what difference one person can make. Well the truth is that none of us can solve these problems alone. But all of us can do something. For my family, one of those “somethings” this year is a $5,000 donation to support young people, creativity and hope in Gaza.

If you're fortunate enough to have some spare change, I encourage you to contribute too. The total project costs are $30,000 and $20,000 has been raised so far. Every dollar counts. And while politicians argue and dodge accountability, ordinary people like us can still choose compassion.

Want to support this work?

Learn more about the Indigo Foundation’s partnership with the Basma Society for Culture and Arts and make a donation here:

Indigo Foundation – Basma Society Partnership

Every contribution helps support young people in Gaza through theatre, creative expression, community connection and healing.

The Basma Society put on the Gaza Festival of Drama for Children just months before Israel started its combing campaign.