About Bukjeh

Bukjeh, meaning ‘a small pack of belongings carried by travelers,’ represents a world where stories, art, and culture converge. Through spoken word, music, song, visual arts, and language, Bukjeh inspires communities to share their narratives, celebrating the rich tapestry of human experiences.

Bukjeh works globally fostering social cohesion, harmony, and inclusion for displaced communities globally. It creates culturally safe spaces that honor and respect the diversity of backgrounds, experiences, ideas, and emotions. Bukjeh delivers impactful projects and activities to audiences worldwide through virtual and in-person programs, bridging cultures and building understanding across borders.

Why Bukjeh

Bukjeh operates worldwide, creating spaces where people from all backgrounds can share their narratives, build understanding, and celebrate their unique journeys.
Our storytellers come from varied experiences. Some are newcomers navigating unfamiliar cultures, while others blend their heritage with their adopted homelands. Many are seasoned artists, and some are exploring creative expression for the first time. Their stories delve into themes of identity, belonging, resilience, and hope, bridging cultural divides and inspiring appreciation for human diversity.
Bukjeh’s work spans theatre shows, documentary films, cultural experiences, and educational engagements. Through these creative avenues, we foster dialogue, empathy, and shared understanding. We believe storytelling is a universal language—a powerful tool to break down barriers and create connections that transcend borders

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Contribution to art and sector

Green Room award 2024

WINNER

WINNER The Joan and Betty Rayner Australian Children’s Theatre Foundation Commission

Australian Small Business Champion Awards

Australian Small Business Champion Awards 2023 FINALISTS

Get to know our founder, Aseel.

Australian Muslim

Australian Muslim Of The Year 2024

Best Speaker

Tedx Melbourne PulggedIn 2020 Best Speaker

The Art Award

Victorian Multiculture Commission Excellence In The Art Award 2020

Creative Art

WAW Creative Art Pioneer Award Winner 2020

Aseel Tayah is an internationally acclaimed creative producer, multidisciplinary artist, and the visionary Founder & CEO of Bukjeh. Deeply rooted in her mission to create meaningful change, Aseel’s work masterfully intertwines arts, culture, and education to amplify marginalized voices and foster authentic connections across communities.

From her humble beginnings as a pharmacist—where she first discovered the power of healing spaces—Aseel transitioned into the arts, earning a Master’s degree and teaching visual and performing arts to gifted students. Her unique journey has shaped her ability to craft transformative experiences, from magical storytelling sessions to dynamic cultural gatherings, leaving an indelible impact on every community she touches.

Aseel’s advocacy stems from a deep commitment to addressing the needs of her people. She has earned a reputation as a trailblazer in the arts and cultural sector, driving groundbreaking collaborations with governments, universities, not-for-profits, and leading arts organizations worldwide. Whether directing theatre productions, building cultural initiatives like the first toy library in her homeland, or working with youth in prisons, Aseel’s creative practice bridges divides and empowers communities.

As a Palestinian Australian, Aseel’s work champions social justice, refugee rights, climate action, and the struggles of First Nations peoples, carving space for underrepresented voices on a global stage. She is renowned for crafting work that is unapologetically by her people, for her people, and about her people, always ensuring authenticity in storytelling and representation.

Through Bukjeh, Aseel has cultivated a thriving global movement of storytellers and changemakers, transforming stages into platforms for connection, empathy, and collective action. Her leadership continues to redefine the cultural landscape, diversifying spaces and inspiring a more inclusive future for generations to come.

You can follow Aseel on the following.

Our Mission​

At Bukjeh, our mission is to provide unique and exciting experiences that promote intercultural connections. We are dedicated to creating safe spaces and encouraging a future that values cultural identities and unique life experiences. Our commitment to the community is evident in our diverse, inclusive and respectful work, suitable for all ages and backgrounds.

Our vision

Changing the world, through our own voices, one story at a time.

Purpose

Creating safe cultural spaces for communities to engage with and share their cultural practices in ways that enables the building of social fabric, transforming sites of inequity into opportunities for celebration and inclusion.

Our Values

Our Goals

To explore and celebrate notions of home as unique to our human experiences and identities, in ways that create positive change in communities.

A. Creating connections with First Nations people and their struggle for sovereignty
B. Empowering people to share their art and stories of home, of displacement and new futures
C. Providing creative tools to support people away from home to connect with each other and build new friendships

To platform the lived experiences of refugees and asylum seekers through storytelling and creative practice

A. Building visibility, engagement, and inclusion of those who have been displaced
B. Amplifying own voices through self-determined practice
C. Demonstrating the power of storytelling to create change

To build capacity across the arts and community sectors to embrace peoples’ diverse backgrounds and identities, and create opportunities for engagement

A. Creating safe spaces with partners that are skilled and knowledgeable to work with diverse communities
B. Facilitating professional development opportunities
C. Being a conduit for connection between organisations and creative practitioners from diverse communities

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