On 13 January, a consignment of musical instruments, bought with your contributions, arrived safely in Dushanbe, capital of Tajikistan.

They are a gift from Artists Without Frontiers to the children of the Malika Sabirova School of Music.

A report by the Dushanbe based journalist Zarineh Khoshvaght brought this school to our attention. Then, Mehdi Jami, shooting his own documentary in Tajikistan visited the school and brought back to London a short film reportage. Thus we learned about this specialist music school where children of all ages receive a musical education.

Tajikistan - out of 226 countries only 8 have worse infant mortality rates. There are 209 countries in the world where people are wealthier than the Tajiks and only 23 where they are poorer. The geopolitical location does not help. A major hotspot. A border with Afghanistan, policed by Russian troops, a disputed border with China, a recent civil war. And if this were not enough, Tajikistan has very poor communications with the outside world. This is the context in which Mehdi Jami's images of children playing on broken instruments, their teachers wearing gloves and fur hats against the Central Asian winter in a building they cannot afford to heat. These people really are suffering for their art. Yet when asked what they needed, the reply was instant - instruments!

No question - Malika Sabirova had to be 2004's  number one cause for AWF in London.

We sent begging letters to musical instrument manufacturers and retailers - no great response there, unfortunately. We put on events., documentary films and music, during which we pitched like mad for Malika Sabirova.

•   A recital from pianist Reza Elhamian.
•   Mehdi Jami showed his documentary to an audience who showed their appreciation by staying on for a lively discussion.
•  Sam Akass, flautist, gave a recital.
•  The investigative journalist and documentary maker Jane Kokan showed her msot recent film. We are full of admiration for the risks she takes in undercover investigation of human rights abuses.
•  The pianist Neysun Rohani gave a recital.

The receipts and other money collected during these and other events began to create a fund as AWF members and the public, touched by the story, reached into their pockets. However charitable funds usually need a major donor in order to reach their target. We had one: Robert Sookias stepped forward and wrote a cheque that changed the whole scale of what we could do for the school. Once we had thought: "We'll ask people to give any violins they don't want anymore." Now...

...in December 2004 we bought, new: 15 violins, 5 violas, 2 cellos, 1 trumpet. The sizes ranged from full size to those suitable for small children. What really hit us as an image for what we had done was the tiny cello. The thought that it would soon be played by little hands many thousands of miles away brought a tear to the eye. There was laughter and  back-slapping. We spread the instruments out and took a photograph. What a day! AWF had translated talk into action. Then we looked at each other. We had to get this roomful of delicate instruments safely into Tajikistan. The plan had been to take them ourselves and be at the school as they were unpacked. We knew that the children were desperate to play for us. But it was impossible to find a flight that included a guaranteed return date and we had our own work commitments coming up. (We will go this spring - when the snows melt on the Pamir mountains.) Meanwhile the children have already received the instruments, freighted to Dushanbe.

On 13 January, Zarineh Khoshvaght confirmed the arrival of the shipment. We include one of her photographs here: well-scrubbed, possible future violinists shyly, and quite tenderly, clutching their new instruments.

Some new year's greeting card!

Well done to us all in AWF! We have made a difference in the lives of future artists.

So many members and supporters have played a part. No names, because although, as is natural, some have done more than others, it is better to have a hundred people involved in a small way than one doing everything.

We will continue to support this school, alongside other projects that will need our help.

Donations for the Malika Sabirova School of Music (PLEASE!) to:

1.  Direct to bank:

Artists Without Frontiers (AWF)
Barclays Bank
London
UK

Sort code: 20-92-60
Account:   00978264

2.  Mail to:

Artists Without Frontiers (AWF)
PO Box 35460
London NW8 9YF
UK

View all the Photos of this event at AWF Gallery