On August 9, 2017, the Help Refugees foundation alongside Fabrika fotografa organised an exhibition of etchings, aquarels and photographs created by Fahrad Nouri, a child from Afghanistan, who with his family resides in the Asylum Centre in Krnjača. The exhibition titled ’’We need kindness – the dream of a ten year old“ was of a humanitarian character, as the money raised through the sale of Fahrad’s pieces will be contributed to the post-operational treatment of another child, Nemanja Damčević, who had recently removed a brain tumor.
Fleeing war in Afghanistan, Fahrad and his family arrived to Serbia eights months ago. His talent was discovered at one of the workshops organised by the Foundation Ana and Vlade Divac in the Krnjača Asylum Centre. He was introduced to the wider public via a short film created by the International Rescue Committee in March 2017. Soon after, Farhad was dubbed ’’Young Picasso“ after his love for the Spanish artist.
Fahrad hopes that he will one day be living happily in Switzerland; however, the chances for that are meagre. Safe passages towards Western Europe for refugees are as of now practically inexistent, while it is too dangerous for families with children to cross borders illegally. In the meantime, Fahrad’s family is in the asylum procedure in Serbia and Farhad is enrolled to elementary school. Several days ago, the Children’s Cultural Centre of Belgrade offered Farhad membership in their art studio, which entails the provision of all the painting materials that he needs, as well as professional assistance from an art pedagogue so that he could continue to improve his painting skills.