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Concert at Kinloss Church to raise funds for Ukrainian refugees


By Garry McCartney

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Valentina Chychkun is a Ukrainian refugee from Kharkiv who has been living in the park since April when her neighbours’ homes were destroyed.
Valentina Chychkun is a Ukrainian refugee from Kharkiv who has been living in the park since April when her neighbours’ homes were destroyed.

A CONCERT is being held in Kinloss to raise funds for Ukrainian refugees.

The event – featuring seven local acts from 7-9.30pm on Friday, June 3 at Kinloss Church – has been organised to raise money for preparing buildings to house refugees in the Findhorn Park Ecovillage.

Organiser Dominic Stuart confirmed entry to the gig will be by donation, the doors will be opened early and attendees are encouraged to bring food and drink.

He said: “We are opening our hearts to peace.

“A small choir led by Kate O’Connell – including one of the Ukrainian refugees – will be singing songs of peace, a cappella style, which the audience can sing along with.

“Iona Leigh will be singing her own soulful songs, accompanied by her harp.

“There will be humorous and poignant poetry and story-telling from Dave Till, Moira Bergman and myself.

“And dance to folk and jazz from Rory O’Connell on Uilleann pipes with fiddle and accordion!”

There will also be a short presentation on the refugee project.

Gail Shaw is in charge of accommodation for the refugees.

She said: “We’ve recently renovated and rented a two-bedroom bungalow in the centre of the ecovillage community. We have two women coming to stay with two six-year-old children from Kharkiv, the second largest city in Ukraine on the eastern border with Russia. One hundred people-a-day are being killed in this area. These families have lost everything: their homes, their livelihood, their food, etc. Their husbands are having to stay in the country to serve.

“We hope to find other accommodation and sponsors so more people will be able to find safety here.”

Findhorn Ecovillage Community Refugee Action Forum chairman, Robin Alfred, added: “We also have a woman from Kharkiv already housed in the Ecovillage. Two more women with children, one of whom is from Bucha, wish to come and need sponsors and appropriate accommodation. We are actively pursuing this.

“While a lot of the renovation work is being done on a volunteer basis, funds are needed to pay for essential works and items.”

The suggested donation at the church door is £10. All proceeds will be processed by the Ecologia Youth Trust for the needs of refugees arriving in the coming weeks and months.

“The event will be a wonderful way to support refugees and celebrate the Jubilee holiday,” finished Dominic. “We will need help on the day to set up, decorate the hall and clean up afterwards. If you can help contact me on 07422 965 852.”



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