n May 2, 2025, the Ustad Allah Bux Gallery at Lahore’s Alhamra Arts Council unveiled Roses of Humanity, a poignant and immersive art installation commemorating the thousands of children who have lost their lives in Gaza since October 7, 2023.
This collaborative project by Labour & Love and The Fundraisers Bargain Basement Sale (BBS) aims to raise 1.5 million dollars for the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund’s (PCRF) Child Amputee Rehabilitation Program in Gaza.

The installation features over 15,000 hand-stitched fabric roses, each one serving as a symbol of a child killed in Gaza. These roses, made from discarded textiles, show how forgotten materials can become the memory of a community. Each of those fabric roses has a handwritten tag with the child’s name and age, a testament to each child’s individuality and the profound loss experienced by their communities. The exhibition is designed to engage multiple senses, incorporating evocative soundscapes, gentle fragrances, and thoughtful lighting. This multisensory approach fosters a space for reflection, empathy, and collective mourning.

According to Islamic tradition, a rose signifies divine beauty and the soul’s spiritual journey. By employing this symbol, Roses of Humanity connects the earthly loss of many young lives to a heavenly narrative, likening the glowing red roses to the Rosette Nebula—a cosmic rose of stars—suggesting that these children now shine among the heavens.

The installation supports the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund’s (PCRF) Child Amputee Rehabilitation Program, which provides rehabilitation for children in Gaza who have lost limbs due to conflict.

The project has garnered support from various sectors, including contributions from Sapphire, Bareeze, and The Fundraisers’ Bargain Basement Sale (BBS). Origami served as the digital media partner, while Lotus Client Management & Public Relations provided strategic communication support.

Roses of Humanity is one of the many global initiatives where art is used to promote awareness about the suffering of Gaza’s children.

Similar initiatives are Echo of Lost Innocence in Doha, featuring over 15,000 teddy bear sculptures representing children lost in the conflict, and Eternal Echoes, at Doha’s Fire Station, with balloons symbolising the fragility of childhood in times of war.

– The exhibition is running from May 3 to May 18 in Lahore at Alhamra Arts Council.