Iran-Sudan fundraiser Wrap-Up
On Sunday, May 24th, Stories from the Beauty Parlor had the immense pleasure of hosting our third community fundraiser at Paolo Pinkel, the hottest spot in the Neukölln neighborhood of Berlin.
We are proud to announce that our community—many of which are part of the same communities we are helping—was able to come together and raise 1,580€ for our recipients. After our fundraisers for Gaza and Ukraine, our focus for this event turned to grassroots women's initiatives in Iran and Sudan.
The energy at Paolo Pinkel was nothing short of magical, bringing our core mission to life by transforming self-care into community care. Our incredible lineup allowed us to experience the intimate solidarity that beauty parlors and creative spaces foster. We connected over stunning henna designs by Mariam and beautiful nail art by Melisa Doci, proving once again that the industries catering to women can be powerful hubs for community mobilization. We nourished ourselves with delicious food from Ashlecker, and the space was completely elevated by a soul-stirring traditional Sudanese music performance by Hassan El Malik. As the evening progressed, sets by DJs Paulah Rey, Sophie Ataya, and Aamiroo gave us the perfect soundtrack to uplift each other, celebrate, and strategize toward collective action.
The donations will go to Aminat, a woman-led organization offers essential psychological support to Sudanese refugees in Kampala, the capital of Uganda. Alongside our support for Sudan, a crucial portion of this fundraiser was dedicated to supporting activists in Iran.
Unfortunately, due to sanctions, severe government repression, and the ever-real and increasing risks those involved face on the ground, we are unable to publicly name the individuals or organizations we are supporting. Protecting their identities is a necessary reality of the local mobilization and global fights we are navigating today. However, your contributions are directly reaching those on the frontlines of this movement.
In the face of an ever-growing global feminist backlash, coming together with you all was a profound reminder of why we do this work: because harsh political times call for warm, empowered feminist communities and leadership.
Thank you to everyone who showed up, participated, and donated. You are helping us build a movement of radical care, proving that when feminist voices uplift each other, we can create innovative solutions and enact real change.