Hands of friendship from Poland

POLISH communities make up a rich and important part of the life of Edinburgh, as well as other places in Scotland and across these islands.

Kapela Dudziarska from Poznan, Poland and BARKA presented and played some evocative and emotionally charged music from their homeland, to rapturous applause at the closing event and celebration for Just Festival 2013.

"The common resonance of the string sound and a distinctive Polish bagpipes with the pipes known and loved in Scotland was very noticeable," one audience member noted.

The band played five different short tunes and have been collaborating with Scotpipe on a charity concert.

BARKA is a Polish homeless group, and has been raising money across Edinburgh in festival season, collecting £310 so far.

The aim is help to rehabilitate people of who have become homeless while in the UK, and it has been going for some 20 years now. "Thank you for supporting us," was the message to Just.  The Polish Centre for Culture and Education also brought a message of greeting this evening.

Beata Skobodzinska, the coordinator of Just Festival, who has done another remarkable job this year, hails from Poland herself.

"Since she joined the festival in 2012 as the Festival Administrator, the office has been a very happy place full of laughter and an occassional Polish song," commented colleague Annika Wolf.

The Polish community has been established in Scotland for many years, since at the end of the Second World War many veterans settled after being posted here. When Poland joined the EU in 2001, an opportunity arrived for a new generation of Polish immigrants to work and study in the UK.

Polish immigrants are currently the largest group of immigrant workers in the city, with the health, further education and tourism sectors accounting for the majority of employers. The City of Edinburgh Council estimates that Edinburgh’s Polish community consists of 8,000 residents.

Many have formed their own community networks and have settled in areas such as Leith, London Road and Marchmont. A variety of Polish shops, services and cafes are available throughout the city region, especially in Edinburgh.

Caring for all at Just

JUST Festival has been delighted to support Waverley Care as one of its sponsored charities in 2013, backed by a percentage of each ticket sold throughout August.

A brief presentation of the impact and importance of that support was offered as part of Just Together, the official closing event for Just 2013. 

Waverley Care is Scotland's leading charity providing care and support to people living with HIV or Hepatitis C.

A diagnosis of HIV or Hepatitis C brings with it not only issues of poor health and a lifetime of medication and hospital visits, but individuals also face social exclusion, stigma and discrimination. 

Waverley Care believes that every person has a right to be cared for, loved and respected, whether they are HIV/Hepatitis C positive or not.

From facilitating peer support, to pastoral and spiritual care and help with job applications, it challenges stigma and discrimination so that everyone can work towards reaching their full potential in life.

TONIGHT AT 8pm: Just together... a celebration!

TONIGHT at 8pm, we celebrate what has been another extraordinary and record-breaking Just Festival (formerly the Festival of Spirituality and Peace) with a 'wrap event' at St John's Church.

Scots pipers will welcome us in and see us out. There will be a swansong or two for Just from the amazing Africa Entsha - of course - along with dance from Ragmala, Polish music, a cameo from Creepie Stool, a reflection from Rabbi Rosen, the Just Festival volunteers bursting into song, and more...

We also look forward to hearing from festival director Katherine Newbigging and chair of the hard-working board, Raymond Baudon.  There will be refreshments in the church hall afterwards.

But don't get the idea that this is the end of Just for 2013!

We will still have a full day left, Monday 26th August. That will be your last chance to see the moving Tejas Verdes, to reflect on Living Our Values, to meet Young Peacemakers, to hear the Canto del Paradiso, to be moved by Sacred Earth, to hear Africa Entsha, to see Creepie Stool... and to answer the question (in a multi-ethnic, multicultural, multi-belief society), "More Tea Imam?"

Also, of course, you can have a final peak at the remarkable In Sight of Peace photo-exhibition: Ian Berry of Magnum offers a unique view of South Africa, past and present, in its quest to leave apartheid behind - without forgetting the torment, and while learning the lessons.

Further previews of all of those events coming up soon here on Just Festival News...

Meantime, Just Together, the official closing event - tonight, 8pm, St John's Church Edinburgh (corner of Princes Street and Lothian Road, venue 127).

It's free, but donations to our charities, Mary's Meals and Waverley Care, and to the ongoing work of Just, will be welcome.

Glasgow Gospel Choir... raising money for Africa

HERE'S another performance not to miss at Just Festival 2013 - the Glasgow Gospel Choir, who are singing their hearts out at St John's Church tonight (Saturday 17th August, 6pm).

The choir has been described as possessing "an energetic mix of talent". Thoroughly community-based, it was established 14 years ago by Jerry Boweh – originally from Liberia – and brings a taste of soulful gospel to Glasgow.

Styles on display this evening will include African, Gospel, Motown and Blues. ​ Something for everyone!

Just as importantly, all profits raised go to the African Youth Development Action Project.  Tickets are £10 (£8 concessions).

Full details and booking here. Also a cash box office at the venue.

Charity spotlight: Waverley Care

JUST Festival is delighted to be supporting Waverley Care as one of its sponsored charities in 2013, backed by a percentage of each ticket sold throughout August.

Waverley Care is Scotland's leading charity providing care and support to people living with HIV or Hepatitis C.

A diagnosis of HIV or Hepatitis C brings with it not only issues of poor health and a lifetime of medication and hospital visits, but individuals also face social exclusion, stigma and discrimination.

Waverley Care believes that every person has a right to be cared for, loved and respected, whether they are HIV/Hepatitis C positive or not.

From facilitating peer support, to pastoral and spiritual care and help with job applications, it challenges stigma and discrimination so that everyone can work towards reaching their full potential in life.

Charity spotlight: Mary's Meals

ONE of the two highly-regarded charities with local and global links being supported by ticket sales from Just Festival in 2013 is Mary's Meals.

Mary's Meals is an international movement that sets up school feeding projects in communities where poverty and hunger prevent children from gaining an education.

Mary's Meals is a simple idea that works - by providing a daily meal in a place of education, chronically poor children are attracted to the classroom where they can gain a basic education that provides an escape route from poverty.

The average cost to feed a child for a whole school year is £10.70 / €12.40 / $16.80 - a small amount that can make a really big difference.

Wherever possible they purchase locally produced food for use in the meals we serve in schools. This supports the local economy, it respects local culture and food preferences, and it avoids incurring extra transport costs.

You can find out more about the work of Mary's Meals here.

Just a small ticket tax...

THE organisation that brings you Just Festival is a social enterprise dedicated to supporting those with a practical vision for a better, fairer and more peaceful society.

This vision, supported by people of different faiths and of no religious belief alike, is both local and global. It takes shape in practical actions, not simply lofty ideals.

Just is about putting our money where our heart is.

Each year we raise money for selected humanitarian causes through a 50p ticket surcharge.

This year we will split all money raised between the inspirational charities Waverley Care and Mary’s Meals.

Over the next couple of days, Just Festival News will give you a flavour of the invaluable work these two important NGOs do, so that you can get to know them better.