Press Releases

Bay Area Women Singers to Benefit Afghan Women

January 4, 2002

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT
Voice: 626-676-7884
E-mail: info_at_afghanwomensmission.org

A concert of music by women of the Bay Area, called “Women’s Voices Rise Up,” will benefit the Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan, on Friday, January 4th, 2002, at 7:30 p.m. at the Women’s Building, 3543 18th street at Valencia, in San Francisco

At this crucial time of change and restructuring in Afghanistan, women’s voices need to be heard. With countless Afghan women suffering from years of neglect of their medical, educational and social needs, singers from the Bay area have banded together to raise money to help these women. We will raise our voices in song, solidarity and passionate support of RAWA. We will celebrate the strength and power of women’s voices with music from bluegrass to Bulgarian, from a capella to Tex-Mex.

The incredible women who will be performing at “Women’s Voices Rise Up” are:

* THE STAIRWELL SISTERS: A five women bluegrass extravaganza including heartbreaking harmonies, banjo, fiddle, dobro, and even clog dancing!
* COPPERWIMMIN: Three vocal amazons set the audience ablaze with a capella harmonic intensity
* RHIANNON: has been bringing her potent blend of jazz, world music, improvisation and storytelling to audiences for three decades.
* SAMSARA: Three women who use humor, harmony and passion to create revolutionary a capella
* KLAADNI: A spicy trio singing Bulgarian choral.
* RENE Y SU GRUPO: Saucy tex-mex including a 16 year-old accordion player.
* JOU JOU: Haunting harmonies from Greek, Appalachian, Jewish and Bulgarian Traditions with a modern jazz twist!
* ERICA BALLINGER: Will bring her sultry, acoustic, conscious grooves.

The Afghan Women’s Mission, an organization dedicated to working with the Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan, is a group of people moved to action by the plight of Afghan women. The mission was founded in January 2000 in response to the compelling need for adequate hospital facilities in Afghan refugee camps in Pakistan.

The Afghan Women’s mission’s goals include establishing and operating free hospitals serving Afghan women and children refugees; supporting schools and other programs for Afghan refugees to alleviate emotional suffering and decrease illiteracy and joblessness; and empowering Afghan refugees to build sustainable livelihoods.

RAWA’s objective is to involve Afghan women in social and political activities, to acquire women’s human rights and contribute to the establishment of a democratic and secular government in Afghanistan. Despite the suffocating political atmosphere, RAWA is involved in widespread activities including education, health and job building.

More information about the plight of Afghan refugees is available on the RAWA website, http://www.rawa.org.