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In response to the humanitarian crises in Palestine and Lebanon, Exeter students organised Safe and Sound, a music event dedicated to raising funds and awareness for those affected.
The initiative, led by Exeter students Laeticia Acra and Albert Addison, builds on a previous fundraiser held at The Angel Bar in February 2024. This September, they officially launched Safe and Sound as a platform to unite community engagement and music in support of the humanitarian cause for Palestine.
Held at Exeter Phoenix on November 22, Safe and Sound attracted over 250 attendees. The evening featured live performances by bands Japan, Man; New Relic; and Poppyshow, along with acoustic sets from student artists Maya Karim Refky Dallal and Matthew Smith. The event also showcased stalls hosted by local groups, raising both funds and awareness for the cause. Collaborators included the Exeter Liberation Encampment for Palestine (ELE4Pal), the Students of Colour Association (SCA), and the Exeter Palestinian Solidarity Campaign, alongside campus organisations like Xpression FM and Campus Bands. Acra and Addison both expressed, “We really couldn’t have done it without them.”
Dallal, a second-year BA English and Creative Writing student, shared her personal connection to the cause, citing her Egyptian heritage and her family’s advocacy for Palestinian liberation. “My family has always been involved in activism to liberate Palestine. My great-grandfather was the UN General Assembly Ambassador for Egypt during the ’67 Arab-Israeli war and was stationed in Gaza. My mother’s best friend is Palestinian—she’s one of the most important people in my life. I’ve always grown up in a culture surrounded by people who knew about the cause and fought for liberation, so it’s always been really important to me.”
Dallal has also participated in campus protests and commented on the growing engagement among students: “It’s very hard to maintain that kind of apathy—I’m glad the culture is shifting towards losing it.”
In response to the mounting humanitarian crisis, university students worldwide have organised encampments, marches and fundraisers, amplifying calls for justice and humanitarian aid in Gaza while pressuring academic institutions and governments to take decisive action.
Safe and Sound raised over £3,000, which will be donated to Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP). This organisation provides vital health services and supports sustainable, Palestinian-led healthcare programs in the West Bank, Gaza, East Jerusalem, and Lebanon. MAP addresses critical health challenges, including maternal and child health, through initiatives like mobile clinics and essential care for civilians affected by conflict.
Reflecting on the event’s success, Addison remarked: “The response has been amazing—pretty overwhelming. People had a lot of fun, and I hope they walked away feeling hopeful that change is possible. We’ve had many people express interest in helping with the next event, and honestly, the more, the merrier. The next one will be bigger, and we need as many people as possible.”
As the crisis persists, student-led initiatives like Safe and Sound highlight the significance of collaboration, creativity and advocacy in addressing global challenges. By uniting students and the Exeter community, this grassroots effort not only raised significant funds but also fostered solidarity and inspired collective action for meaningful change.
Image: Safe and Sound Event by Lachlan Evans, 2024
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