Letters from the Global South to Feature in Exhibition

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Friends of the Earth staging event at the West London Islamic Centre

Attendees look at the displays at a previous exhibition of the letters

September 3, 2026

The West London Islamic Centre will open its doors at the end of the month to a climate exhibition that brings voices from across the Global South directly.

Letters from the Global South, organised by Ealing Friends of the Earth in partnership with Zero Hour and Muslims Declare, will run on 30 September and 1 October and invites visitors to see the climate crisis through the eyes of children and communities living with its consequences every day. The organisers describe the exhibition as a chance to understand how decisions made in the UK ripple outward, shaping lives thousands of miles away.

Alongside the exhibition, a community day will encourage families to take part in practical, low‑waste activities. Visitors are invited to bring good‑quality children’s uniforms, clothes and toys to swap, reducing textile waste while helping neighbours find what they need. A seed‑potting station will offer hands‑on learning about caring for plants, and a climate trail will lead children and families through clues and challenges designed to spark curiosity about the environment. A food court serving freshly made dishes will run throughout the day, turning the event into a lively community gathering as well as an educational experience.

The exhibition itself will be held on the first floor of the centre, which is fully accessible with lift access. The letters on display come from countries including Indonesia, Nigeria and Bangladesh, offering personal accounts of how climate change is reshaping landscapes, livelihoods and futures. Ealing Friends of the Earth say the aim is to encourage visitors to listen closely. “Climate change isn't something happening far away to other people. Communities in the Global South are living it now, and our choices here are part of the reason why,” a spokesperson said. “We want people to come, listen, and think about what they can do.”

For some in Ealing, the exhibition carries particular resonance. Local resident Olivia Law‑Zygadlo, who is of Indonesian heritage, describes the display as deeply personal. She points to the fires linked to palm‑oil production that continue to destroy forests in Borneo, Papua and Sumatra—ecosystems rich in biodiversity and home to communities who have lived there for generations. “One of the letters in the exhibition really brought that home for me,” she said. “I’d like people in Ealing to see that the things we buy here can have a real impact somewhere else.”

Schoolchildren in India hold up posters about climate change

The community activities will run from 10am to 6pm on 30 September, while the exhibition continues until 5pm on 1 October. Visitors are asked to dress modestly in accordance with the venue’s guidelines. Admission is free.

West London Islamic Centre in on Singapore Road (W13 0SQ)

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