English PEN, one of the world’s oldest human rights organisations, celebrate their 100th anniversary this year and Off the Shelf were invited to be part of their celebratory programme. For Dear Sister, participants wrote a letter to a ‘sister’ – an inspirational woman in their life – responding to a letter created by workshop leader, Somali Italian writer and performer Ubah Cristina Ali Farah. Sheffield writers Helen Mort, Debjani Chatterjee and Sheffield Poet Laureate Warda Yassin have also produced creative responses on ‘sisterhood’. Women involved in the project including Ubah, Helen, Debjani, Warda and some workshop participants will share their work at this event.

Dear Sister is part of English PEN’s year-long programme Common Currency supported by a National Lottery Project Grant from Arts Council England.