Sarah’s Gift event raises $10,000 for refugee family.
Singer/songwriter Sarah Cowan gave a rousing performance on Saturday night, while on a leave pass from Moruya Hospital. Sarah told a rapt audience the story of Aden and Fardowsa, the refugees she is supporting in their quest to get their family to safety. Sarah is facing a life threatening illness and helping this is her bucket list.
With a vibrant audience of 200 Moruya RSL Hall was rocking with Sam Fletcher, the St Peter’s Anglican College Blues Band and Driving Sideways joining Sarah’s own band sacred cow. Sarah’s Gift was hosted by comedian Vicki Haberley, who kept the games and music pumping.
The generosity of the 200 people who came for a great night as well as those who donated has raised $10,000 for the family stuck in a Kenyan refugee camp for so many years. This was an evening celebrating the kindness and compassion of Eurobodalla people. We thank all the local businesses who made donations of prizes.
The money will be held in a trust fund while the Refugee Action Collective Eurobodalla supports the family in their applications for resettlement. RAC won’t be able to bring them to Australia as our government is refusing to take refugees from Somalia.
Sarah told how Aden was only six years old when his parents were murdered and he walked with his older sister and younger brothers for three weeks to reach temporary shelter in Kenya. Fardowsa’s parents were killed in the war and she was helped by other women to escape a forced marriage.
Aden and Fardowsa married and now have three small children. Aden has been working as a social worker helping new arrivals in the Dadaab refugee camp.
Sarah and her friends in Refugee Action Collective Eurobodalla hope the success of “Sarah’s Gift - Music and Mayhem Spectacular” will achieve a safe future for this family. The night was a wonderful effort by the musicians and all the helpers.
Photos by Sean Burke
