As we close 2018, we wanted to send you a tremendous THANK YOU for supporting Soufra.
We had incredible success this year, helping to raise over $325K and another $500K committed for future years for Mariam and the WPA, and we couldn’t have done it without you.
Some highlights are below,
From the Soufra team
NAWRAS PRESCHOOL OPEN!
Mariam's dream of opening a preschool in the camp has been realized! The Nawras Preschool opened its doors and welcomed its first students on October 9, 2018 and will serve the community by providing education and daycare to 75 at-risk children in the Bourj el-Barajneh refugee camp each year.
This preschool, the first apolitical, nonreligious preschool in an area of the camp where previously there were no daycare facilities, will not only allow the women in the camp to pursue their socio-economic roles but also will allow children to achieve higher educational outcomes later on as a result of a healthy and engaging environment in their early years. Furthermore, five women each year will receive training and employment as pre-school teachers. You can see more photos and videos of the Nawras preschool on Facebook.
SOUFRA AT THE VATICAN & BREAKING BREAD INITIATIVE
Breaking Bread is a new initiative designed to bring conversations about community, entrepreneurship and refugees to your place of worship. Using stories of inspiring individuals around the world and shared meals, hosts will gather people together with the goal of building a culture of empathy and acceptance. Our goal? 1000 screenings in 2019!
Breaking Bread was inspired by The Laudato si’ Challenge, which seeks to sustainably improve the lives of 10 million people excluded from Our Common Home by 2020 through sustainable and ethical businesses.
On December 5, 2018, Soufra was invited by the Vatican to screen at the Pontifical Oriental Institute as part of The 2018 Laudato si’ Challenge where a Family Fund was launched, bringing together ten families to pledge $10,000 USD per year for ten years to cover the running costs of the Nawras Preschool, to enable children who are unable to pay the school fees to attend. To date, five families have pledged to the Nawras Preschool Family Fund. Alfanar will be organizing a family visit of the Nawras Preschool as part of the fund's commitment.
FESTIVAL & PARTNER SCREENINGS AROUND THE WORLD
Soufra has screened at over 45 film festivals, winning over 9 awards since our premiere. We launched a Global Screening Tour on International Day of the Girl (Oct. 10, 2018) and have organized over 40 partner screenings around the globe. During the first 5 days of the screening tour, Soufra Cookbook sales were up 339%!
Best Arabic Feature Documentary @ El Gouna Film Festival 2017
Audience Award Foreign Documentary @ Cinetopia Film Festival 2018
Audience Award Best International Feature @ Florida Film Festival 2018
Best International Feature Documentary @ Galway Film Fleadh 2018
Winner - Artistic Director @ San Diego Film Festival 2018
Audience Award Best Documentary @ Portland International Film Festival 2018
Audience Award Best Doc Feature @ Boston Palestine Film Festival 2018
Favorite Food & Beverage Film @ Napa Valley Film Festival 2018
Jury Award for Best Documentary @ UNAFF 2018