Jesse Zambrano’s international relations degree has given her a worldly view on change, empowering her to make a difference in her local community while contributing to global efforts for Palestine and Lebanon. Born in Venezuela, and raised in Perth, her deep love for the arts is something that her Venezuelan culture holds dearly. Life in Perth offers her opportunities to celebrate new cultures, particularly as the city becomes more diverse with a growing population.

 “Art is a way to celebrate culture and heritage. It’s especially important for communities to share their stories and preserve their culture for future generations,” Jesse said.

Jesse is one of several women behind the “Girls Night for Palestine” campaign, a social cause that aims to connect, build, and strengthen community ties. At the heart of the campaign is a focus on bringing people from all walks of life together to connect with those experiencing the conflict overseas and support greater action toward peacekeeping and rebuilding homes in the affected regions.

“The potential ceasefire agreement is a very important step. It’s even more important to keep the conversation going. Our communities should not lose sight of supporting the Palestinian and Lebanese communities in rebuilding their homes, especially with all that’s happened,” Jesse said.

The group has moved away from more extreme forms of advocacy, such as protests and encampments, stating that while these events may make a difference, they do not foster the long-term relationships across communities that typically lead to change.

“I met a few other girls at a Gaza Solidarity Encampment event last year.

From there, Sahra, Mia, Aisha, Ashleen, Haneen, Rachele, Sophia and Mabel, came together to organise events where people could meet and connect on the important issues affecting Palestine and Lebanon.

There was nothing available for women, and we all wanted a way to take action.

We partnered with other organisations, such as “Perth Mums for Palestine” and “Jews for Palestine in Western Australia,” to raise awareness and work toward ending the conflict overseas. Through our events, we’ve made important and lasting connections.

Sometimes, at protests, you see the same people attending, and once it’s over, everyone goes their own way. Our events are designed to foster community and raise awareness in the long term,” Jesse stated.

The grassroots, youth-led initiative has already organised a series of events, including a Palestinian community cooking event, a film screening, and a community dinner, as ways to celebrate Palestinian culture and give the community hope amid the challenges.

Now, the group turns to its new venture as it calls on aspiring Palestinian-Australian and Lebanese-Australian creatives and artists to showcase their talent as part of a cultural arts exhibition to be held in June. An Expression of Interest is now open for potential exhibitors.

“The art exhibition is planned for June this year, with plenty of time for anyone interested to submit their interest,” Jesse noted.

One artist, Razanne, leads traditional Trateez (meaning embroidery in Arabic) lessons for locals in Perth. She is one of the artists already eager to join the exhibition.

Registrations for the cultural art exhibition are now open. If you are Australian and of Palestinian or Lebanese descent, submit your interest online through tinyurl.com/eoiartexhibit