Building Solidarity Through Jewellery: A Conversation with Michelle Farrell
When I spoke with Michelle Farrell, she described herself simply: “I’m a girl from Derry, living in Dublin, and at the moment I support families on the ground in Gaza by selling jewellery.”
What began as an impulse to help in the face of devastation has grown into a network of solidarity—stretching from Instagram connections to markets in Dublin, and into the lives of families surviving in Gaza.
Learning, then acting
Michelle admits she didn’t always know the scale of what was unfolding.
“Like everyone else—or a lot of people in the world—I didn’t know a lot about the genocide or what was happening over there. The more I learned about it, the more I wanted to make a difference. As just a regular person on the street, it’s very hard to think of how you can make a change. So where we can’t change the whole situation, we can assist people on an individual basis.”
Her first efforts were fundraising events, directing money to five families she met through Instagram. Video calls built trust. When donations slowed, she sought a way to give something back to supporters. The solution became jewellery: handmade, sold online and in markets, with proceeds channelled directly to families in need.
Community momentum
Across Dublin and Ireland, she says, others are taking action too.
“There’s demos happening every few days by different organisations that were literally just formed after what has become the genocide today. Grassroots groups in Cork are working with people on the ground in Gaza to distribute food. We’re all relatively friendly with each other now, and we all have the same like-minded idea.”
Upcoming markets are filled with stalls raising funds for Gaza, from food vendors to artists. Michelle sees it as a growing ecosystem of solidarity: people pooling resources, creativity, and persistence to reach families directly.
Stories behind the work
What stands out are the individuals Michelle connects with. One man needed kidney surgery; fundraising covered it and secured treatment in a field hospital.
But Michelle has gone further, bringing the creativity of people in Gaza into her jewellery.
“Jana is 12 years old, a very talented artist. I asked her family if I could incorporate her art into my jewellery. Every time I load a new Jana piece, it flies out the door. I actually have to restock before the market.”
Moh, another contact, took photographs of flowers blooming in his village during a brief ceasefire. Michelle turned them into resin earrings. “Those flowers aren’t there anymore, but at least they can help support him. Sales from Jana’s art and Moh’s photography both go to those individual families.”
Jana’s work has even reached the Museum of Childhood Ireland. Another young girl, Rafif, just ten years old, has also been featured in an online art exhibition.
What’s next
Michelle is preparing for the Solidarity Souk on 14 September at the Bernard Shaw in Dublin, where 25 vendors will come together from 11am to 5pm. Her stall will feature jewellery, Jana’s art, Moh’s photography, and embroidered pieces contributed by friends.
“If you go there looking for a gift, everything in my stall goes 100% to families in Gaza. Other stalls too are sending money there. It’s a really strong collective effort.”
How to support
Michelle directs people to her Instagram page, Creations for Donations.
“If you’re looking to connect with someone in Gaza, send me a message. I’ll tell you where to go to get in touch with a verified family. By that I mean someone that I know and trust has done a video call with the family and the fundraiser, so we know the money is definitely reaching them.”
She also urges people to follow for updates on events, family-friendly fundraisers, and ways to purchase jewellery. She ships worldwide, with only postage covered by buyers.
A closing note
What lingers is not just Michelle’s initiative, but her conviction that individual acts matter. “Where they feel that hope is entirely gone, this is a little glimmer for them.”
