Concert will raise money for Afghan women and girls

By Nicole Wheatley

Calgarians will be coming to campus to hear Jodie Farr and Sheri Allen sing for the women of Afghanistan on October 22. The fundraiser to support the education of Afghan women and girls will take place at the Rozsa Centre at 6:30 p.m.

The evening will connect Albertan and Afghanistan culture through song and education. The event features guest speaker Sadiqa Basiri, a leading women’s rights activist from Afghanistan, along with Middle Eastern handicrafts, dancers, food as well as Farr and Allen performing traditional Albertan country and folk songs.

Co-organizer, Dr. Irene Herremans, a professor from the Haskayne School of Business says, “It’s important to be aware of what’s happening in other countries. In Canada, sometimes we take our education for granted; in Afghanistan women have not been able to support themselves or get an education. We want to provide an opportunity for these women who have no future unless we help.”

The event is a collaboration among campus departments, faculty members, PhD students, alumni and the community. So far, alumni organizations such as Canadian Women for Women in Afghanistan and K&S Media have been instrumental to the initiative, along with the International Centre, the Institute for Gender Research, the Canadian Sport Centre Calgary, Light up the World Foundation and other industry sponsors such as Provident Energy, Dick Haskayne, and Travelodge.

“ I’m proud of the support we’ve had from the university and other organizations. Everybody does a little bit, and it all comes together,” says Herremans.

Funds raised at the event will go towards the Noor Education Centre, an important community resource centre in Kabul. “I think the best way to deal with the threat of terrorism is to support education. Education is so powerful. We wanted to help the whole community, and we think this initiative complements the work being done at the U of C.”

Tickets are $75 with a $50 tax receipt; call 244-5625 or e-mail w4wafghan@praxis.ca. Sell five tickets and the sixth is free.