Graphic design students from the University of East London set up a charity art exhibition and auction that opened to the public on Saturday May 22, 2010, on Hanbury Street, just off of east London’s bustling Brick Lane.

The young proactive students are currently working with the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) in order to raise money for the Haiti cause, following the devastating 7.0 magnitude earthquake that struck the Caribbean nation of Haiti, 10 miles from the capital Port-au-Prince on Tuesday January 12, 2010. “We were given a project to create an exhibition and because the Haiti earthquake had recently happened, I thought of focussing the exhibition around more of a fundraising event that somehow collaborated with a charity”, says Melissa Pacheco - the enthusiastic, talented young lady behind the exhibition.

All profits from the event will be donated directly to DEC. Melissa added, “We came together as a group and collectively decided that we wanted to work with DEC Haiti Earthquake Appeal. The University of East London and DEC have been so supportive in helping us set up our exhibition. I originally come from the Philippines, where there are high levels of poverty, so I feel I can relate in some way to what is going on in developing countries.” 

The open auction featured art works from the likes of Peter Kennard (photography), Joe Wilson (screen printing), Mark Long (illustration) Jonathan Barnbrook (graphic design), Carl Jason (print and fashion, and a member of the Ugly Kids Club), Prestige Tattoo's (tattoo artists); all were up for sale, with bids starting from £30 up to a whopping £500. “I’ve never organised anything like this before, so it was quite a challenge getting in touch with professional artists, finding the right location and working out costs” admits Melissa, “but it has definitely been a positive experience as it reminds the public that just because Haiti is no longer in the limelight of the media world, millions of people still continue to suffer in a disaster that only happened four months ago. People tend to forget this, so we wanted to remind them.”

"...It reminds the public that just because Haiti is no longer in the limelight of the media world, millions of people still continue to suffer..."

Various countries responded to appeals for humanitarian aid with billions of dollars being pledged at a UN conference in New York. In Britain, the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) launched a massive appeal for aid, reaching more than two million survivors in the first 100 days. Ctrl.Alt.Shift has put on Haiti raves and auctions to engage our generation on this global cause, and Christian Aid has worked particularly closely with local Haitian organisations to support their wide range of efforts covering food, water, shelter and household supplies. We are now working to support people to feed their families and earn a living through agriculture.

Although huge challenges still remain, namely the fact that many survivors still live in extremely poor conditions - especially as the rainy season progresses into May and the hurricane season looms in June - what this group of young, creative and selfless students from the University of East London have accomplished in such a short space of time is so inspiring; and is an idea that will hopefully stimulate their creative peers to advance in this kind of direction.

“We graduate next year and we’re really thinking about raising money through our artwork again for our final show/exhibition. Our university wants to do this kind of event again and will provide some funding, so if everything goes to plan, we could definitely be doing it again this time next year, perhaps for a different organisation in the International Development sector, and for the same/or a similarly important cause” says Melissa. All in all, the students managed to raise over £350, with plans to sell the rest of the artwork on an online auction.

Words: Carissa Yeboah

For more information on the artwork at the exhibition, please contact Melissa Pacheco at .

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