When
Where
Ethiopian Community in Britain,
2a Lithos Road,
NW3 6EF,
External
Journey from preserving wall paintings to providing humanitarian assistance. Available to attend both in person and online.
Stephen Rickerby and Lisa Shekede will talk about their work restoring church wall paintings in Tigray, their efforts to improve the livelihoods of the local communities and the formation of their new charity to provide humanitarian aid.
Stephen and Lisa worked with the Ethiopian Heritage Fund, a UK-based charity, to preserve wall paintings in the rock-cut and built churches of Tigray. Paintings at risk of collapse and loss were repaired and stabilised, others were cleaned of centuries of dirt and incense smoke. Vivid scenes and figures hidden beneath later plasters and limewash were carefully uncovered. The burden of care for the churches rests primarily on local communities and it was recognised that the gains made in preserving the church and its paintings were worthless if the local community could not also participate in, and benefit from them.
Stephen and Lisa founded a new charity, Desta Ethiopia, to be a conduit for humanitarian aid. Since their conservation work had been principally in Tigray and they have well-established contacts there, this region is the focus of the charity’s efforts. But they are helping people in other regions, too, including Afar and Amhara. Their aim is to help the most vulnerable, especially women who have been victims of sexual violence, women and their children who have lost their homes, and destitute children in rural areas.
For more information or to register, click the booking link.
This is an externally hosted event and inclusion on KUextra does not constitute an endorsement or approval by Kingston University.
