12/09/2026
Tavga , Gateshead (273 High Street, NE8 1EP): Choosing Life, Culture, and Integration over Conflict
Tavga s a women-led, community-based organization in Gateshead that supports women and their children, representing Kurds from across Kurdistan. Our core principle is non-violence: we strive to live in peace and dignity as active citizens in North East England.
In recent weeks, our community has suffered another devastating blow. Many have mourned the deaths of young Kurdish men and women in the ongoing human rights crises in Rojava (Syria) and Iran. Our sons and daughters continue to be targeted simply for their Kurdish identity and their peaceful demands for fundamental freedoms, particularly women’s rights.
As parents, educators, and youth workers living in the UK, we are determined to break the cycle of this trauma and ensure it is not passed on to our children growing up in Britain.
Today, on the fourth anniversary of Gina (Mahsa) Amini’s passing, our community gathered at theTavga Centre, not in anger, but to reaffirm the value of life.
To the sounds of the traditional saz, wearing Kurdish national dress, sharing stories across generations, learning and sharing meals together, we renewed our commitment to the universal principle: Gina, Jiyan, Azadi – Woman, Life, Freedom.
We don’t want our daughters to live in fear, nor do we want our sons to feel alienated or lost. We want them to excel in their studies, contribute to the economy, preserve and celebrate their rich Kurdish linguistic and cultural heritage, and integrate confidently and positively into British society.
For many Kurdish refugee women and young people in Gateshead, theTavga Centre is the only safe haven that respects their cultural identity. Our work directly addresses key UK public policy priorities: • Combating social isolation and improving mental health and well-being
• Preventing the marginalization and exploitation of young people by fostering positive cultural identity
• Empowering women and girls through community leadership and education
• Promoting social cohesion and intercultural understanding
Your support for theTavga Foundation is an investment in peace and education, and in a future where Kurdish youth in the UK choose books, music, and civic engagement over fear and marginalization.