Here is the first of the Open Studios that will feature in the Festival.
"World In Need" is a local charity started in 1991 by Ron and Nan George, a Crowborough couple who, having worked overseas and seen for themselves the suffering and hardship resulting from ongoing conflicts throughout the world, decided to do something to help.
Mark Aldrich, Operations Manager, tells us about their current work with young artists in Afghanistan. "They attend the Child Care Centre in Kabul which is run by local volunteer, Jihanne Niazmand. In this place of safety and learning the children - aged between 6 and 14 - many of whom have lost family in the fighting, can experience the joy and therapeutic benefit of oil painting under the supervision of Ali Khan. Some children show remarkable talent and many of their paintings reflect scenes from their homelands."
Over half of the money raised from the sale of the paintings goes directly back to the Centre and is used as an investment in the children's lives. The programme has recently seen its first success with Hamida who has been offered a place on a teacher training course specialising in art at Kabul university. The same is true about the handwoven Persian rugs made by women widowed in the conflict. The overall aim of the programme - and the Charity - is to help people like these find a way to sustain themselves by their own efforts and regain belief in their abilities to survive and prosper.
"World In Need" will be opening its offices at Trinity Hall, Mill Crescent, Crowborough TN6 3BD (off Park Road/Croham Road) for an exhibition and sale of paintings, rugs and other craft items for the whole of the Festival week 18th - 26th September Mon - Fri 9 am - 5 pm: Saturdays 10 am - 3 pm: Sundays 11 am - 3 pm.
Examples of the work can be seen on their website http://www.worldinneed.co.uk/ and any enquires will be welcomed by Mark at info@worldinneed.co.uk
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