Pcia Fundraising Gala

19 November 2025

Recently, Palestinian Christians in Australia hosted its 4th annual gala to a packed audience of supporters. It was a beautiful event of cultural celebration and preservation and solidarity, featuring a fashion parade highlighting traditional Palestinian embroidery, tatreez. Tatreez is a symbol that has outlasted empires and kingdoms, leading it to be inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2021. Embroidery is an intergenerational practice, transmitted from mother to daughter, and now, through formal training courses. The choice of colours and designs can indicate the woman's regional identity and marital and economic status. The proceeds raised on the night will go to supporting newly arrived refugee families from Gaza, as well as students in Palestinian universities. Over the last 2 years, PCIA has raised over $1.3 million including donations and grants and spend over $1.2 million in financial support to the settlement of the refugees arriving in Australia and to funding education in Palestine. This work would not be possible without the donors, sponsors, volunteers and the artists and artisans whose work was featured. I particularly acknowledge the board of PCIA, led by Suzan Wahab, for their hard work.