What happens when Dublin’s gig scene gets behind a cause?
Over the past two years, gigs, album launches, song releases and fundraisers at Whelan’s, Vicar Street, The Workman’s Club and more have helped sustain a school for more than 200 children in Gaza.
The school began in October 2024 with just 40 children and three teachers, founded by Gazan couple Abed and Aya after their own schools were destroyed. Teaching Arabic, English and Maths, it has grown into a school of more than 200 children, with around ten qualified staff, Science classes, exams, therapy, psychology support, play and parent workshops.
Much of that growth was powered by Dublin’s music and arts community. Artists including Damien Dempsey, Mundy, Paddy Casey, Brian Brannigan and Alice Jago were just some of those involved, while venues including Whelan’s, Vicar Street and The Workman’s Club also contributed by donating free space for fundraising events.
Album launches, song releases, merch, cycling challenges and even a doggie fashion show all helped raise funds for teachers, classrooms, books and supplies.
Now, the Dublin based driving force behind it all, Stay Human Collective is handing the school over to German education charity doBetter e.V., which will take on its long-term funding and give it a new name: The Olive Tree School.
Speaking about the initiative, Moira Cassidy, co-founder of Stay Human Collective said, “We built this school because we refused to let children in Gaza lose out on their education and we wanted to give their community hope in a future.
“In the past two years, we have been overwhelmed by the positive outpouring of support. We are so grateful to everyone who stood up with us in the face of extreme injustice and we can all be proud that our work has led to thousands of children continuing their education.”
Before the handover, there’s one final Dublin fundraising date. The Stay Human Collective’s last gig takes place at The Workman’s Club on 24 September, with Madra Salach headlining and Whisht supporting.
So far the campaign has raised €21,000 towards a €45,000 target to establish a new educational camp, expanding capacity from 200 to 1,000 children. Donations remain open until the campaign closes in October.
doBetter, which already operates 90 schools across Syria, Lebanon and Afghanistan, will fund the new camp once established, while the original Gazan team continues to run the school on the ground.
Please support if you can.
