Amos Trust in 2024
The Year in Review 

“Another world is not only possible; she is on her way. On a quiet day, I can hear her breathing.” Arundhati Roy

In our first blog post of the year, you will read about some of the occasions in 2024 when we heard about the ‘other world’ taking a breath. Sometimes, it was a long, deep gasp of air, others a rattly asthmatic cough. Many, many times, the quietness of our breath got drowned out by all the noise around us and the horror we see in Gaza, Lebanon, Jenin, Yemin etc. etc. etc. 

Over the next year, I hope we have more quiet days when we can hear that breathing more clearly and spend more time being able to welcome the world we believe in and want to invest our time, energy and resources in. That we can focus less on patching up bodies and providing emergency food relief and more on refusing to inhale the stale air that will be ever more forcibly pumped into our lives. That we can spend more time celebrating incredible people and their steadfastness, courage and creativity. 

We are working with some great people on plans for 2025, which we are excited about and look forward to sharing with you soon but for now, below are some of the highlights from 2024. We know that these wouldn’t have been possible without your support. So thank you, thank you, thank you, for filling our lungs with the good stuff.

Alexia
Climate Fellowship

In 2024, we launched our Climate Fellowship, partnering with 12 women climate activists and land defenders from Mexico and Central America. One participant, Nuria Yamada, (pictured above), shared her transformative experience:

“This space, beyond the training and mentoring, has helped me build and strengthen bonds with women who are starting or developing their own projects. I see myself reflected in my colleagues as they navigate challenges similar to those I faced when my group began our journey.

Knowing that most of us in this fellowship have shared, felt and carried similar experiences in our hearts creates a deep connection. It’s as if we’re together in the same space, even though we’re physically apart. Our shared experiences and struggles unite us, transcending distance.”

Karunalaya, India

After months of persistence, Karunalaya in Chennai, India, received official certification for their girls’ shelter in June 2024. The shelter, housed in a building provided by the Greater Chennai Corporation, faced challenges when the ground floor was repurposed as a Primary Health Centre. This change created safety concerns for the girls due to the constant presence of men and improper disposal of medical waste.

Following a relocation request, the girls were moved to a new building. However, soon after, they were informed that the shelter would be closed, leaving them vulnerable to homelessness and the associated risks of child labour, sexual abuse and early marriage.

Paul Sunder-Singh, Karunalaya’s founder, tirelessly appealed to various authorities. His efforts were rewarded with a registration certificate for the shelter, ensuring the girls could continue to live in a safe environment.

In May 2024, Cheka Sana marked a significant milestone by completing training for 37 women, enabling them to establish thriving businesses. These women, who had been living on the streets and exposed to risks such as sex work, now enjoy safety, stability, and financial independence.

Since December 2023, their collective income has increased by 30%. Moreover, 80% of their children are no longer living on the streets, and the mothers are now able to provide better nutrition, healthcare, and education for their families.
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Nick
Sumud: Union Chapel, London — April 2024

Our ‘Sumud’ fundraiser for Gaza at Union Chapel in London in April 2024 was a memorable evening of poetry, readings and music. We were joined by world-class musicians Adnan Joubran, Alabasta Deplume, Shabaka Hutchings, Beth Rowley, Foy Vance, Nadine Shah and the mighty Mogwai (pictured above).

There were also contributions from Irish DJ and producer David Holmes, actress Maxine Peake and artist, activist, producer and musician, Brian Eno. And we were honoured to be joined by Dr Husam Zomlot, Head of the Palestinian Mission to the United Kingdom. Over £20,000 was raised for our work in Gaza.

Watch this space for Sumud 2 coming soon — Inshallah. 

Photography: Mark Kensett Photography