Alrowwad Cultural and Theatre Training Center- English

An Invitation after midnight

2005-08-12T23:19:00.000+03:00

An Invitation after midnight

The apartheid illegal wall surrounding the northern side of Aida camp is finished. We thought and hoped that would end the Israeli occupation soldiers to enter Aida camp, and stop their unwelcomed barbaric behavior and disturbance of the calm of our nights. However, this all seem to be a hope without foundation.
On the night of 10th to 11th of August 2005, at about 2:00 a.m, several vehicles of the occupation army invaded Aida Camp with a huge uproars. Their screams and noises shouting at the people in their houses and knocking at the doors and windows of peacefully sleeping inhabitants torn this peace into pieces and scattered our hope of a calm night. The shouting increased: Get out… switch the light off… come here… go there… turn your face to the wall…
My cousin Ibrahim reports hearing the sounds but not seeing where and in which part of the camp it happens.
His youngest girl, Reyan, who is 5 years ld, left here room ad came to her parents room…. She was in panic, asking what are these noises, and who is making them? He hugged her, and just said: that these were the occupation soldiers. Go to sleep
She looked with fear in her eyes once again, and asked: Are they going to enter our house?
Ibrahim said: I don’t know. Go to sleep and think about it.
Well she slept after one hour, but not as children sleep…. She had tears on her cheeks and fear in her heart… and an adventure to live somehow…
One hour later, the vehicles of the Israeli Occupation army started to move out, with all the noises possible as if celebrating an undeserved victory. They left finally, around 4:00 a.m, after 2 hours of vandalism and horror in the streets ad some of the houses in the camp.
Now what is really amazing is that, this night they didn’t come to arrest any one. They didn’t come to demolish a house… The just have done all of this to invite 3 people in the camp to one of the interrogation and detention centers in the south of Bethlehem, called Atzion. They are required to meet with Israeli intelligence… If they do not go, then the same thing will happen another night, but this time, to arrest them….
They are so polite, aren’t they? How would you like to be invited for a meeting after midnight with such honors? All the neighbors would admire that, specially your wife and children if you are married, or your parents, brothers and sisters

Once again, the occupation army re-enters the camp at 3:00 a.m thus morning, August 12th.
This time, they arrested Raed Sharara, a 30 years old young man. He is married and has 3 children. Nobody knows yet the reason of his arrest…
And the news shall continue…
If you miss excitement where you live, come to Aida Camp… Life started to take its rhythm f the old days….

Hope you all well and a good day rest and a good night sleep… Hope that your children will hear nothing, maybe your snoring if you do snore…

2005-07-16T03:19:00.000+03:00

Alrowwad Tour Report in Vermont (28 June to 4 July)2005

Tuesday, June 28:

Fabulous potluck at my house with Connecticut drivers and all our support team from Vermonters for a Just Peace in Palestine/Israel. After supper kids went swimming.

Wednesday June 29:

Great soccer game with penpals from Aida and low-income students from Lawrence Barnes school. Press conference with writer from Seven Days, our alternative weekly, and Burlington Free Press. Mayor gave out frisbees and maple syrup. Photos in both papers next day. Picnic and swim at beach. Potluck at beautiful house of Sister-Cities (Burlington-Bethlehem-Arad) friend. Kids were fabulous - served, helped cook and clean-up.

Thursday June 30:

Pick strawberries. Echo Museum (beautiful museum of life in the lake). Picnic in park. Abed and two children radio interview for public radio. Abed and technicians to theater, kids came a little later. Performance (more than 150 people).

Friday July 1:

Abed radio interview in Waterbury with Mark Johnson, our liberal voice in Central Vermont. Kids to Ben and Jerry's factory in Waterbury, then to pool in Montpelier. Picnic in park, hosted by WILPF. 4:00 all to theater, 6:00 performance - maybe 50 people. (Beginning of holiday weekend.) After performance, bag suppers prepared by Women in Black. One and a half hour drive to farm in Wheelock.

Saturday July 2:

Fabulous Palestinian breakfast prepared by S'ra. Swim at Willoughby cancelled because it was too cold.On to Bread and Puppet in Glover, for rehearsal and dinner with puppeteers. Nancy back to Burlington during the day. (Exhausted) Troupe back to farm to spend night.

Sunday July 3:

Performance with Bread and Puppet and performance of play as well. Theatre is full. Vans return to Burlington at 10 p.m. for a late meal.

Monday morning July 4:

Early departure for flight to Louisville-Kentucky. Our team of five was assisted by probably 75 volunteers in one capacity or other. We mixed with refugee children at Lawrence Barnes and Jewishchildren in Montpelier. We had four photo-stories in newspapers. No TV coverage. We tried too hard to give the troupe the Vermont experience. We succeeded in that, but we didn't make enough money.

Nancy Farell,

Burlington - Vermont

Alrowwad Tour Report in Louisville - Kentucky (4 July to 10 July)2005

Dear Friend of Al-Rowwad Children's Tour,
What an amazing experience in creativity, community, and relationship building you helped to make happen in the recent work on the Palestine to Louisville Friendship Tour: Building Friendships, Strengthening Community!
Whether you gave your time, your talent, your leadership, or your financial support, without your part in the incredible work we have done together, this project would never have been what in the words of so many who were involved was a "LIFE CHANGING" experience.
As one of the coordinators, Bob Cunningham said after the tearful good bye to our new family, the Al-Rowwad theatre troupe at the airport on Sunday, "The Palestinian children and their teachers are now a part of all of us. But you know, we here are now more a part of one another as well."

For all who wish to celebrate, there will be a pot luck and viewing of some of the film footage taken by the hard working, creative crew of KyDigital Media on Tuesday, July 26 at 7pm at West Broadway United Methodist Church, 3620 West Broadway. Please pass the word to all the "Buddies" so that the youth can be with us to share in the affirmations.
From the very beginning the leadership that was engaged in forming the project and carrying it out, knew we wanted to do this in a way that truly built community here, that had at its core the relationship between the oppression too many face here in this country, and the violence and struggle our visitors face under Occupation and war in Palestine. This was about reaching one another as equals, and knowing that the growing and learning and support would be a two way process. The project focuses on communities sharing the way culture, and non violent-expression through the arts, is one of the most powerful weapon for peace and for justice, and in particular, that the participation of local youth with each and every event organized was central.

Highlights:
*tremendous community building, with special appreciation to West Broadway Community Center, Chickasaw Park team, the River City Drum Corps, Squallis Puppeteers, UrbanSpirit, Americana Community Center, Stage One, Muhammad Ali Institute, Ramallah Club, Louisville Arts Council and Genesis. Thank you all for your part in building relationships and friendship across lines of race, nationality, ethnicity, culture, religion, sexuality, gender and age.
*diverse, affirming and visionary leadership team: Bob Cunningham, Nadia David, Pat Geier, Ibrahim Imam, Cyd Iyun, Zambia Nkrumah, Marsha Schneider, and Carla Wallace, assisted by an amazing support team including Nana Yaa Asentewaa, Stephon Barbour, Loey Basyouni, Robin Bensinger, Keith Bertrand, Kathleen Campisano, Milton Carpentier, Deb Conrad, Sonja De Vries, Nancy DeMartra, Logan Dooley, Chris Doerflinger, Teresa Dunson, Jean and George Edwards and FORsooth, Dan Farrell, Aletha Fields, Phyllis Free, Jessica George, Heaven and Earth, Al Herring, Holly and Darcy, David and Mary Horvath, Airin Hutchings, Iyman Imayreh, Dawn Jenkins, Darnell Johnson, Martha Johnson, Peggy Kidwell, Carol Kraemer, Mary Ann Lambert, Ed Lassiter, Gracie Lewis, Edgardo Mansilla, Ben Mays, Pam McMichael, Terry Mickler, Ken Nevitt, Lisa Osanka, Howard Owens, Kirk Owens, Omar Ayyash, Kristi Papailler, Shamika Parrish, Christine Payne, Kris Phillips, Beth Harrison Prado, Natalie Reteneller, Ann Reynolds, Angelyn and Marcos Rudd, Scheldorf Family, Janene Shakir, Erika Stith, Chetan Talwalkar, Ms Taylor, Sara Todd, Russ Vandenbrouke, Alice Wade, Melanie Walker, Holly Wallace, Lorena Wallace,Naomi Wallace, Sharon Wallace, Joyce Ware, Ed White, Pamala Wiley, the UrbanSpirit crew's Claire, the kitchen team, and the Avon Church group, and many others who volunteered for events, helped make and serve food, decorate, make banners, sell and buy tickets, raise and give donations, get the word out and involve others, bring their children (or bring their parent(s)), send e-mails, serve as Peace Marshals, give rides, make flyers and on and on and on.....over 325 volunteers and financial supporters.

*Thanks to the "Buddy Program" developed by Cyd Iyun, local youth made friends with our Palestinian visitors and participated in the events throughout the week. T-shirts bore Arabic names scribbled in marker, and young people spoke often about what it meant to learn about one another's lives and challenges, hopes and dreams. Appreciation to all the "Buddies" including Ajourney, Ashley, Christopher, Devlin, DJ, Lorena, Luka, River City Drum Corps youth, Shenee and all the others.

*tens of thousands reached through the media with coverage on all TV channels, two live interview pieces with Abed and live dance performances by the youth, two great articles with photos in The Louisville Courier-Journal, a full page article in LEO, and extensive interview pieces on the local NPR affiliate, WFPL.

A Review of the Week's Events:

*JULY 4:
Over 40 people participated in the Airport Welcome on Monday, July 4. The Al-Rowwad children and teachers arrived to balloons, banners in Arabic and English, and smiles and hugs. Afterwards, at the headquarters of the River City Drum Corps, Al-Rowwad was welcomed by RCDC's Zambia Nkrumah and Ed White in words of solidarity and a delicious meal donated by Ramsi's Restaurant. The children of RCDC had made beautiful gift bags celebrating the struggles and history of Black people in the United States.Later at the Welcome Dinner, Zambia Nkrumah of the River City Drum Corps youth drum training group shared a moving testimony on how our struggles for justice are connected, and then, her husband and co-creator, Ed White reminded us all, "None of us are Free Until we are all Free".

*JULY 5:
The Palestinian youth spent a day at the Americana Community Center and performed in two dance sessions for other youth from war torn lands like Somalia, Sudan, and Rawanda.
A beautiful dinner was hosted by the Ramallah Club at the cozy home of Coordinating Team member Nadia David. The Al-Rowwad youth met members of Louisville's Arab American community and enjoyed the food of their homeland. Dabka dancing on the sidewalk afterwards carried cheers and smiles through the neighborhood.

*JULY 6:
Over 50 people filled the West Broadway United Methodist Church for workshops in drum and puppet making lead by the River City Drum Corps and Squallis Puppeteers. Palestinian youth learned about the "spirit of the drum", beautifully creating designs in colors of the rainbow. They made new friends in the youth from River City Drum who assisted them and listened to a brilliant display of drumming in the performance that preceded lunch. Spontaneous lessons in Arabic or English broke out, and many figured out ways to communicate without words. A "puppet bus" was chosen as the subject of the puppet making because, in the words of Palestinian youth Hamada, "a bus can fit many people". Indeed, despite getting disconnected from its cab during the Peace Parade to Chickasaw Park, at least ten small boys and girls made a valiant effort "walking the bus" in the July swelter. In the park, a wonderful meal was waiting with time for soccer, relaxing and a game of "Parachute World".

*JULY 7:
The morning hosted by the Muhammad Ali Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution included a chance for our quests and local youth and adults to enjoy the University of Louisville Planetarium and lunch at the Red Barn. Aletha Fields and her class of teachers brought dessert and the youth got UL gift bags and a juggling lesson.
Later, the group was able to see the technology behind film making at Kentucky Digital Media and view some of the footage they had helped to shoot the day before. A tremendous applause for Aaron, Sonja, Terry, Shannon, Brad and Shadwick for their work filming the entire week's events!

Then the CHILDREN of AL-ROWWAD THEATER perform their "beautiful resistance" theater, "We are the Children of the Camp" and the community embraced Al-Rowwad as family, and honoring the young artists with over 300 in attendance at the University of Louisville's Playhouse theatre. In what for many was the most moving moment in the play, technical difficulties cut the music sound just as the youth were dancing. Without missing a single step, the children kept dancing and the audience clapped to the silent music's beat.
After the extended ovation at the end of the play, an audience member said of the technical problem moment, "Perhaps we helped carry them, but they were also carrying us."

*July 8:
The morning was filled with laughter and encouragement as Al-Rowwad joined over 15 local youth in the "Master Class" led by Stage One Children's Theatre's J Herron with assistance by Kristi Papailler who arranged the opportunity for the theatre skills workshop.
The afternoon was arranged by Janene Shakir and hosted by the Islamic School. Local "buddies" and adults participated in with our Palestinian sisters and brothers in Muslim prayer services and shared lunch and conversation together. Teens who are part of Janene's group Pride without Prejudice participated in dialogue about Palestinians struggle, and the civil rights srtuggles here.
That evening the fabulous "Festival of Arts and Community Building" drew a large and enthusiastic crowd in Portland's UrbanSpirit for food, friendship, dancing, mural making and poetry.

*July 9:
All day at Moncada Farms for a train tour of Henry's Ark, swimming, horse back riding, food, and relaxing over looking the beautiful river view. Buddies played with their Palesintian friends and community was shared by many who had joined in the week's events. DJ dived for her first time ever, and Amal touched an animal (the horse she rode) for the first time in her life. People wrote their messages and created beautiful drawings, in some cases inserting their photo, for the Al-Rowwad group to take back to Palestine with them in two books, and a card for Pat who was in the hospital (she's out and doing well now).

*July 10:
Tearful goodbyes and a hug line sent our friends back to Palestine. A little piece of each of our hearts goes with them.

We were all left ready for more wonderful activities to keep the spirit alive!

Carla Wallace
City Coordinator, Louisville – Kentucky

2005-07-15T20:36:00.000+03:00

Palestinian children’s theater inspires U.S. audiences
By Charlotte Kates
Published Jul 8, 2005 10:42 PM at: http://www.workers.org/2005/world/palestine-0714/

The young actors, dancers and singers of Al-Rowwad Palestinian Children’s Theater visited New Jersey and New York June 17-22 as part of a U.S. tour that also includes stops in Connecticut, Vermont and Louisville, Ky.

A new generation takes up thePalestinian cause.

Al-Rowwad center in the Aida camp was founded and is directed by Dr. Abdel Fattah AbuSrour. It consists of an arts, theater and cultural center for children. It also houses a computer center and a library. Abu Srour wrote and directed “We are the Children of the Camps,” the play performed by the children of Al-Rowwad during their tour.
Performed in Arabic with English subtitles developed for the U.S. tour projected behind the actors, this play tells stories of exile and expresses the commitment of a new generation of Palestinian refugees to return to their homes and lands, and to struggle for freedom.
The young Palestinians play and laugh until their joy is broken by the Nakba—”the catastrophe”—of 1948 and their expulsion from Palestine. One by one, the characters recount the destroyed villages of Palestine. Then they face the audience in unison, shouting the names of the villages destroyed by Zionist occupation.
Al-Rowwad were met with great enthusiasm at all four of their area performances. Beginning with their opening performance on June 18 at the Passaic County Technical Institute in Wayne, N.J., at a show sponsored by New Jersey Solidarity-Activists for the Liberation of Palestine and the Palestinian American Congress-New Jersey Chapter, the children of Al-Rowwad delighted and inspired their audience, who cheered and clapped at images of resistance and the young actors’ portrayal of Palestinian courage, strength and dedication to return to their land.
The warm reception for Al-Rowwad’s performance continued on June 20 at the Barrow Street Theater in New York’s Greenwich Village. Theater-goers welcomed the performance and again generously supported the group’s fundraising efforts.
The following night saw a sold-out performance at the CUNY Graduate Center’s intimate Martin E. Segal Theater.
Their final performance on June 22, sponsored by Al-Awda New York, brought the young performers to Brooklyn’s Al-Noor School. They were greeted by a large and enthusiastic crowd in the Islamic school’s auditorium, who again contributed generously to Al-Rowwad’s fundraising to expand their center in Aida camp.
Through song, dance and performance, the young actors of Al-Rowwad not only portray the tragedies of the past and present, but continue to express their dedication to struggle, their strength and connection to Palestine, and their unbreakable commitment and hope to return to their homes and liberate their land.
Al-Rowwad’s time in New York City was arranged by an ad hoc committee of theater activists from Theaters Against War and Nibras, an Arab American theater group, as well as Palestinian and Palestine solidarity activists from a variety of organizations. All came together to raise funds for Al-Rowwad’s visit to the New York/New Jersey area and plan housing, meals and activities for the actors and staff of Al-Rowwad during their visit.
Activities Coordinator Ibrahim Abu Srour and Stage Manager Amal Asad, a graduate of the Al-Rowwad program, along with Dr. Abu Srour, accompanied the Al-Rowwad cast—11 boys and girls chosen from the dozens who work on art, theater and dance at the center.
Husam Alazza, Ribal Kordi, Muhammad Anwar, Rowa Abu-Srour, Salam Alazza, Hamada Alkurdi, Woud Darkhawaja, Ikhlas Abu-Srour, Ahmad Alajarma, Jehad Alajarma, and Hanin Alaaraj made up the cast who traveled to the U.S.
Thousands of dollars were raised for Al-Rowwad during their New York/New Jersey tour, and their success promises to continue in Connecticut, Vermont and Kentucky. Plans for them to return to the U.S. next summer for another tour are already being discussed.

Charlotte Kates is an activist with New Jersey Solidarity-Activists for the Liberation of Palestine and Al-Awda New York.

2005-07-10T22:00:00.000+03:00

Palestinian youths perform, share their lives

A group from a Palestinian refugee camp performed at the Festival of Arts and Community Building. The members of the Al-Rowwad Children's Theatre and Cultural Training Center are wrapping up a monthlong trip to this country. (By Michael Clevenger, The Courier-Journal)

By Chris Ottsand Paul WilsonThe Courier-Journal
http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050709/NEWS01/507090406&SearchID=73214085221743

Terryll Wadlington and RyOndrae Wesley watched intently as 11 children from a Palestinian refugee camp in one of the world's most turbulent regions smiled and danced before them.
"Yeah, boy!" Terryll yelled at the one of the dancers.
"They must be in good shape," RyOndrae said.
Terryll and RyOndrae, both of western Louisville, were among about 100 people who watched the Palestinian dancers last night at the Festival of Arts and Community Building at Urban Spirit, 26th and Bank streets. Louisville is the last stop in the Palestinian group's monthlong trip to the United States, which ends tomorrow.
The children are members of Al-Rowwad Children's Theatre and Cultural Training Center in Aida, a cramped refugee camp in Bethlehem, said AbdelFattah Abu-Srour, who founded Al-Rowwad.
"The children have no space to play, no green space. They have only the streets around them to fight with each other, to break the windows of the neighbors -- or just to be in continuous confrontation with Israeli soldiers," he said.
Al-Rowwad gives Palestinian young people a chance to express their opposition to the Israeli occupation peacefully with song, dance and art, he said.
The group also seeks to change an American perception that Palestinians "are only throwing stones or being suicide bombers," Abu-Srour said.
The children produced a play that draws on their lives in the camp and is also a historical drama about Palestine.
"This is our version of our own history," he said.
The play has been staged in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Vermont.
"The people here have been so wonderful to us," said Husam Alazeh, 15, another Aida resident.
Before last night's event, the group met yesterday with a group of black teens from around Louisville called Pride Without Prejudice.
Mohammed Abu-Srour, 16, noted that unlike where he lives, in the United States people of different races and cultures mingle.
Janene Shakir, a lifelong Louisville resident who converted to Islam in 1979, explained that it wasn't that way before schools integrated. Blacks still face oppression, she said.
RyOndrae, who is black, said he related to the Palestinians' feelings. "Like if me and my friend were to go into a different neighborhood, they'll look at us different," the Central High School student said.
Some Americans still carry suspicions of Arabs as possible terrorists or religious fanatics, but all the Americans they've dealt with have been welcoming, AbdelFattah Abu-Srour said.
Husam said the group has been able to make Americans see that average Palestinians are peaceful. Of terrorism, he said, "I don't why they do that. I am against that. I don't want any problems for the society."
After spending a nearly a month in the United States -- away from the Israeli checkpoints at his home in Bethlehem -- Mohammed said he has a new appreciation for a free society and for Americans.
"They are very good people, I love them," said Mohammed, a distant relative of Al-Rowwad's founder. "And I will tell the people at home that they are good people."
He said he hopes that the Americans who have met him will say the same about Palestinians.

The reporters can be reached at cotts@courier-journal.com and pawilson@courier-journal.com

2005-07-04T21:30:00.000+03:00

Children of war express feelings through art
By Larry Muhammad
lmuhammad@courier-journal.com
The Courier-Journal

Ribal Alkordi, a Palestinian boy living in Bethlehem's war-torn Aida refugee camp, used to throw stones at Israeli soldiers.

"They invade the camp and kill people; they burn down houses," said Ribal, 16, in a telephone interview from New York, where he was touring.

Casualties on both sides have mounted in the Middle East conflict amid continuing suicide bombings and military actions.
But the energetic 11th-grader learned to channel his anger into acting and dance through an apolitical, nonprofit arts institute in the camp - the Al-Rowwad Children's Theatre and Cultural Training Center.
"Al-Rowwad helped me not go and throw stones at the soldiers anymore," he said. "Our lives are very difficult, but we go to the center and express our feelings through art. They teach us languages -- English and French -- and they have events and theater."
Ribal and 10 other Al-Rowwad youngsters are visiting Louisville this week as part of their first American tour performing Palestinian dance and theater.
"All the camp children throw stones," said Abdelfattah Abu-Srour, Al-Rowwad's founder and director. "But we wanted to take them off the streets, waiting for soldiers to come and sometimes get killed, to give them an alternative form of resistance, one that would lead somewhere other than the military approach."
Founded in 1998 for children 6 to 18 years old, Al-Rowwad ("the Pioneers" in Arabic) mobilizes Palestinian artists and educators for three-month arts workshops. It has served about 800 Aida children since it began.
The students perform original plays, including the musical "We Are the Children of the Camp," which they performed in Denmark and Sweden in 2000.
In the United States last month, they performed at a festival and several schools and theaters in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.
The Louisville performances will include a show Thursday at the University of Louisville's Thrust Theatre. Russell Vandenbroucke, chairman of U of L's theater arts department, urged theatergoers "to seize the opportunity to encounter in person these young emissaries from this war-torn part of the world.

"While our eyes and ears may be numbed by years of news reports on the Middle East, we seldom have the chance to experience for ourselves the human beings who are among the victims of war, violence and occupation."
Stage One, Louisville's professional theater for young audiences, will host a workshop for the Al-Rowwad group on voice, body movement and imagination in American acting techniques.

J. Daniel Herring, Stage One's artistic director, who is conducting the workshop, noted that the theater has hosted groups from the former Soviet Union, Africa and other countries.
"Every country does the arts a little bit differently. We knew Al-Rowwad was coming to the U.S., and as a courtesy we felt like we'd offer a workshop and discussion. We feel strongly that when kids work together through the arts, it's a great way for cultures to blend and for us to learn about one another."
The Aida Camp is an area of makeshift homes where 5,000 Palestinians are crowded along narrow streets and gunfire and other violence are not uncommon.
Camp children frequently experience nightmares and bed-wetting, exhibit aggressive, antisocial behavior, and lose interest in school, according to reports by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency.
Officials of the Al-Rowwad center, now located in a two-room house with basically a computer lab and a library/performance space, hope to establish a permanent, full-service cultural center and theater in the camp, equipped with high-tech lighting and sound systems and a movable stage for traveling shows.
The group's Louisville visit is sponsored by arts, education, human-rights and business groups, including the Fellowship of Reconciliation, Islamic Cultural Center, Louisville Arts Council, Stage One Children's Theatre, Ramsi's Cafe on the World, Genesis Arts, Kentucky Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression, River City Drum Corps, Squallis Puppeteers, Muhammad Ali Institute for Peacemaking and Understanding, Committee for Peace in the Middle East, University of Louisville Department of Theatre Arts and the West Broadway United Methodist Church Community Center, among others.
"These exchanges fulfill a central role for Al-Rowwad," said Abu-Srour, the director. "They project positive images of Palestinian children to the outside world, as opposed to the violent representations often portrayed by most media outlets. It's also important that these children know what is normal life without checkpoints, and to continue to have hope."

Published on July 4, 2005 at:
http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050704/SCENE05/507040334/1011/SCENE

2005-06-29T22:22:00.000+03:00

Children of the Camp

Palestinian theater troupe resists beautifully, without the language of hatred

http://www.leoweekly.com/index.shtml
29/6/2005
The Al-Rowwad troupe’s activities include painting and dancing, but the group now touring the United States focuses on a theatrical presentation called “We Are the Children of the Camp.”

“A beautiful resistance” is the term Abdel Fattah Abu-Srour chooses to describe Al-Rowwad, the Palestinian children’s theater troupe he founded in 1998, which performs in Louisville on Thursday at the University of Louisville Thrust Theatre. It’s a “beautiful resistance” intended to foster hope among the children, challenge media stereotypes of Palestinians and open doors between Palestinians and the rest of the world.

Dr. Abu-Srour, who has advanced degrees in biology and medical engineering, grew up in the Aida refugee camp, in the occupied West Bank. He earned a doctorate in France and in 1998 returned to the camp in an effort to improve the lot of his people.“There was nothing for the children in Aida,” he told me during a phone interview. “They had nothing except the streets where they just play or fight with each other or break the windows of their neighbors or are in continuous confrontation with Israeli soldiers.”

Abu-Srour’s dream for the next generation of Palestinians is to “show these children that the things that happen in the refugee camps are not normal,” he said. “You can hear the children say, ‘We are used to that.’ But they should not be used to this. It is not normal to live under occupation, oppression and humiliation, and we cannot build a free and democratic Palestine if the children do not learn that this is abnormal.”

In New York City, early in their tour of the United States, the children were invited by actor Denis O’Hare to view the Broadway production of “Sweet Charity.” Afterwards, backstage, Abu-Srour recalled, they were asked how they liked New York. “One of the children said, ‘It’s nice that there are no checkpoints.’ This is the normal thing, that there are no checkpoints, no soldiers. This is how a country should be, and we have to show this to our children.”

Statistics about the refugee Palestinian population are remarkably controversial and notoriously difficult to confirm, but in 2000 a United Nations report indicated that a half century after the 1948 Nakbah (the forced relocation of perhaps a million Palestinians that followed in the wake of the founding of Israel), there were roughly 5 million Palestinian refugees registered with the U.N., of whom perhaps 1.25 million were under the age of 15. No matter whose statistics one accepts, it’s clear that generations of Palestinians have grown up as refugees, and Abu-Srour’s “beautiful resistance” is, at the very least, an attempt to move in new directions.

The youths in the touring Al-Rowwad troupe, drawn from Aida and from the Beit Jibrin refugee camp, range in age from 10-16, but the company also includes children as young as 6. The company’s activities include dance and a puppet show, but the core activity is a theatrical presentation called “We Are the Children of the Camp.” The show began as a collective improvisation in which the children talked about their homes, schools and lives. Over time, the play has grown to include reflections on their lost villages of origin, tales of their ancestors and the history and politics that have hovered over the Palestinian people since the beginning of the 20th century. “We wanted to give the children a chance to say what they want to say,” said Abu-Srour. “And we wanted to show that Palestinians are human beings, that we want to live like human beings, that we don’t accept the way we are portrayed in the media as just terrorists or savage, barbaric people without humanity.

We are resisting in a way that shows that we enjoy life despite everything that is happening to us, despite the occupation. “And we are resisting to preserve our identity, our culture and our traditions, and to show that we are a people under occupation with the legal right to resist that occupation the same as every other occupied people. But we resist without the language of hatred.” Indeed, in order to maintain its independence, the company resists by remaining independent and unaffiliated with any political or religious parties. “We are Palestinians without restrictions associated with party or religion, and the team is all volunteers,” said Abu-Srour. “If you have funding, then when the funding goes away, you can no longer do the work. But the work needs to be done regardless.”

And the core of that work, he continued, is education. “To save the future of Palestine, we need a generation of educated people. We do not need a generation of ignorance. There is enough ignorance in the world, and we do not need more. We need to create the possibility of exchange between Palestinian children and French, American, Jewish children, so that if we meet each other we will not kill each other, because basically we are the same human beings, we can have a better future for our children and the generation to come. And we can give them hope. When the audiences come, the children understand that they are making a change and there are people who listen to us, who are ready to help us continue this beautiful resistance of ours. If the Palestinians lose hope, then we have lost everything.”

Tickets for Al-Rowwad’s
July 7 performance at the Thrust Theatre are $10-$25, with a sliding scale for adults and $1 for children under 18. All proceeds will benefit the non-profit Al-Rowwad Children’s Theatre.

The troupe arrives in Kentucky on July 4. In addition to their July 7 performance, the Al-Rowwad Children’s Theatre will join local youth in workshops with the Squallis Puppeteers, the River City Drum Corps, and a “Master Class” given by Stage One Children’s Theater. Their last performance will be held at UrbanSpirit, 448 N. 26th St., from 6-9 p.m.,

Friday, July 8, following a pot luck supper as part of a Festival of Arts and Community Building. This event is open to the public; donations welcome.

For more information, call 609-7985, 448-3496 or 776-9338.

By Marty Rosen
martyrosen@gmail.com
Al-Rowwad Children’s Theatre
Thursday, July 7
University of Louisville
Thrust Theatre
Warnock and Floyd streets : 456-6586
$10-$25; 7:30 p.m.

Last changed: June 28. 2005 11:35PM

2005-06-25T21:15:00.000+03:00

The Children of the Camps and the Spirit of Return
by Charlotte Kates
http://newjerseysolidarity.org/alawda/july2005/alrowwad.shtml

The young actors, dancers and singers of Al-Rowwad Palestinian Children's Theater visited New Jersey and New York between June 17-22, as part of their U.S. tour that also includes stops in Connecticut, Vermont and Louisville, Kentucky. Al-Rowwad center in Aida camp was founded and is directed by Dr. Abdel Fattah Abu Srour, and consists of an artistic, theater and cultural center for children; it also houses a computer center and a library. Abu Srour, a member of the board of directors of BADIL Refugee Rights Association and a speaker at the 2004 Al-Awda convention in New York City, wrote and directed "We are the Children of the Camps," the play performed by the children of Al-Rowwad during their tour.

Al-Rowwad were met with great enthusiasm at all four of their area performances. Beginning with their opening performance, on Saturday, June 18, at the Passaic County Technical Institute in Wayne, New Jersey, at a show sponsored by New Jersey Solidarity – Activists for the Liberation of Palestine and the Palestinian American Congress – New Jersey Chapter, the children of Al-Rowwad delighted and inspired their audience. The Saturday evening show was attended mostly by the local Palestinian and Arab community, including many children; the audience cheered and clapped throughout the performance, at images of resistance and the young actors' portrayal of Palestinian courage, strength and dedication to return. Linking Palestinians in exile in the United States with Palestinian refugees living in the West Bank, the Al-Rowwad actors' theme of return and liberation was met warmly by the community, who responded generously to the appeal for funds for Al-Rowwad's center delivered by Dr. Abu Srour.

The play itself, "We are the Children of the Camps," is a 75-minute tale of dispossession and resistance. Brought to beautiful and human life by the young actors, the play begins with them as children, playing and living amid the environment of Aida, Palestinian children in forced exile from their home villages.

Performed in Arabic, an English translation of the play is projected on a screen near the actors for their U.S. performances. The innocent play of Palestinian children, however, is soon disrupted by a voiceover of the Balfour Declaration and the beginning of the time of exile, as the actors walk in circles through the seasons of exile, old, young and newborn children, until settling in Aida camp. A video montage highlights the story of al-Nakba, as scenes of Palestinians driven from their homes and lands accompany scenes of Palestinians resisting their dispossession. During the video montage, an original song, "1948," plays, illustrating musically the images on screen:

"You have seen what happened

The country is swallowed by destruction

The tents filled the country

Time shall take revenge from the occupier

No right shall be lost

As long as there is resistance and there are demanders."

One by one, the actors come forward to state their original villages and towns in occupied Palestine, recounting the settlements, invasions and massacres, until all 11 actors stand across the stage, speaking in unison, recounting the stories of village after village and reiterating their commitment to return to their homes before singing their story:

"We are the children of the camp

We are the sons of refuge

We are the children of exile

We are the lovers of resistance."

We follow the children of Aida through the stories of their lives as children and the story of Palestine; they depict children again at play one moment, while discussing conditions in the camp; in the next moment they become the generation of the Intifada, courageously resisting the occupier, demonstrating and throwing stones until most of them are martyred. Nonetheless, a few survive, and help the others to rise and stand tall once again, speaking of their commitment and ties to the land of Palestine that have not been broken by exile, oppression or death.

Another film montage, this one focusing on scenes of the Intifada and resistance, closes with a fluttering Palestinian flag, an image of a key, and, in English and Arabic, the words "We will return." Al-Rowwad's actors then cast a critical and humorous eye on the news, interspersing headlines of alleged breakthroughs in the "peace process" with continuing tales of occupation and promotions of products – even Coca-Cola, and call for news that reflects the truths of their lives.

One of those truths is illustrated in the scene that follows, as the actors queue up for a checkpoint manned by sadistic guards who steal a woman's glasses, beat a man trying to cross the checkpoint, and humiliate others, before their practices cause the death of a Palestinian baby, born at the checkpoint after they refused to allow his mother and father to pass. Four women then emerge, speaking as the sisters, wives, daughters and mothers of prisoners, exiles, martyrs and fighters, declaring "La salam" (No peace) until there is justice for the refugees, the prisoners and the martyred as they represent the strength and endurance of Palestinian women.
The performance reaches its climax with a powerful debkeh scene, as each actor performs, dancing to a song that celebrates the continuing struggle for return:

"The raven flies, the raven flies

they brought destruction to our country

Open a window, remove a door

The state of injustice is a mirage

The partridge fly, the partridge fly

Sing my country's traditional zajal

Every exiled, every prisoner

Shall return home immediately"

The performance closes with a satirical commentary on the so-called "peace process", contrasting the promises of peace with the reality of continued occupation, and the actors of Al-Rowwad again return to their lives as Palestinian children of Aida camp, playing, living, and struggling for return. The show closes with a beautiful debkeh performance as the actors, in traditional Palestinian dress, dance, as the young woman at the center holds aloft a Palestinian flag.

The warm reception for Al-Rowwad's performance continued on Monday night, June 20, at the Barrow Street Theater in New York's Greenwich Village, as theater-goers welcomed the performance and again generously supported Al-Rowwad's fundraising efforts. The following night, Tuesday, June 21, saw a sold-out performance at the CUNY Graduate Center's intimate Martin E. Segal Theater, before their final performance, on Wednesday, June 22, sponsored by Al-Awda New York, brought Al-Rowwad to Brooklyn's Al-Noor School. The evening performance was greeted by a large and enthusiastic crowd in the Islamic school's auditorium, who again contributed generously to Al-Rowwad's fundraising to expand their center in Aida camp.

Al-Rowwad's time in New York City was arranged by an ad hoc committee of theater activists from Theaters Against War and Nibras, an Arab American theater group, Palestinian and Palestine solidarity activists, from a variety of organizations, who came together to fundraise for Al-Rowwad's visit to the New York/New Jersey area and plan housing, meals and activities for the actors and staff of Al-Rowwad during their visit. Activities Coordinator Ibrahim Abu Srour and Stage Manager Amal Asad, a graduate of the Al-Rowwad program, along with Dr. Abu Srour, accompanied the Al-Rowwad cast, eleven boys and girls of the dozens who work on art, theater and dance at the Al-Rowwad center. Husam Alazza, Ribal Kordi, Hammad Anwar, Rawa Abu-Srour, Salam Alazza, Hamada Alkurdi, Woud Darkhawaja, Ikhlas Abu-Srour, Ahmad Alajarma, Jehad Alajarma, and Hanin Alaarj made up the cast who traveled to the U.S. While in New York and New Jersey, the Al-Rowwad performers went to Coney Island, a Broadway show and the Empire State Building, stayed in the homes of committee members, and ate meals, many of which were donated by supportive local restaurants and community members. Thousands of dollars were raised for Al-Rowwad during their New York/New Jersey tour, and their success promises to continue in Connecticut, Vermont and Kentucky; plans for Al-Rowwad to return to the U.S. next summer for another tour are already being discussed.

For more information on Al-Rowwad, please see http://alrowwad.virtualactivism.net/.
This article may be shared, reproduced or distributed under a Creative Commons License.

Al-Awda is published monthly by New Jersey Solidarity-Activists for the Liberation of Palestine. We welcome submissions, letters to the editor, cultural works, and other proposals for publication.Contact us: Al-Awda Newspaper (973) 954-2521

info@newjerseysolidarity.org http://www.newjerseysolidarity.org

2005-06-25T19:41:00.000+03:00

Palestinian Theater: Going Global
By Hala Nassar

The coming of the al-Rowwad's Children’s Theater this month to Hartford sends a positive sign both for the Palestinian theater working in the occupied territories and for the Americans. Al-Rowawd's Children’s Theater is an important segment of the Cultural and Theater Training in Aida refugee camp situated between Bethlehem and Beit Jala in the West Bank south of Jerusalem. The center aims to cater for the children of the camp whose inhabitants are refugees of the tragic events of the 1948 and 1967 wars with Israel. Forty percent of the camp is composed of children under the age of fourteen, who lack the space to play freely or to live in dignity. A 30-foot high Wall built by Israel goes through the camp. On the other side, it is surrounded by military checkpoints that separate it from the nearby settlement of Gilo. Established in 1998, the Cultural and Theater Training Center helps the children to release and deal with the harsh reality of the camp in an artistic and creative healthy manner. The plays that come out of this center help not only the children, but also their audience to see a different image of Palestinians who are usually stereotyped as terrorists and suicide bombers in the West. Through the various international tours the children see that there are people who care for their existence as equal human beings who deserve to have their national rights as people and refugees restored.

After the signing of the Oslo Accords peace agreements between the Palestinians and the Israeli government, in 1993, the geographical reality since then has changed dramatically. The increase in the building of settlements, bypass roads and countless checkpoints, makes it impossible for the inhabitants of the Palestinian cities to connect with each other whether for economic trade or family reunions. This also had a great toll on the cultural life in the West Bank and Gaza. Since the southern regions of the West Bank have been isolated for many years from Jerusalem, the center of cultural activity, al-Rowwad’s Children Theater along with Ibda Cultural Center in Dhiesha camp are taking the lead to empower Palestinian children and keep them off the streets, thus minimizing daily confrontations with the Israeli Defense Forces, which have claimed the lives of more than a thousand children in the last 5 years.

Since it is quite hard for Palestinians from the north or the south to travel to Jerusalem without having military permits, the Jerusalem based Palestinian theater makers; mainly that of al-Kasaba theater and the Palestinian National Theater lost most of their audience and consequently could not survive. The former in 2000 inaugurated a second venue in the city of Ramallah to cater for the nearly non-existent cultural life there. For the last decade, Palestinian theater went more than once into a period of stagnation depending on the political situation. Another factor that is crucial to the continuity and rejuvenation of this theater depends on financial support. Since the local Palestinian Authority cannot maintain funding for its own survival, theater makers had to turn to foreign donors mainly coming from Europe. Another method is to go global and perform in the west with the aim to spread their messages and maybe get proper funding in order to make it for the next season. This is the first time for the Al-Rowwad Theater in the USA but not for other Palestinian troupes. Al-Kasaba was featured in New Haven’s International Festival of Arts and Ideas in 2001 and toured other US cities. The Palestinian National Theater is performing for children in New York’s Toy Theater this month.

As for the American audience, the Hartford appearance of Al-Rowwad is a rare opportunity to hear the voices of Palestinian children on stage. Bringing other theater troupes whether Palestinian or from any Arab countries will help the western audience to see another side of the Middle East; where countries and regions are relentlessly trying to advocate for freedom, equality and peaceful solutions to their conflicts; solutions that should maintain their civil and national rights.

Hala kh. Nassar is Assistant Professor of Modern Arabic Culture and Literature in the Department of Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations of Yale University

2005-06-24T21:24:00.000+03:00

WE ARE THE CHILDREN OF THE CAMPS

Palestinian Children's Theater Troupe Al-Rowwad Performs in New York City

commentary by Howard Pflanzer

“Beautiful resistance” is the underlying focus of the Al-Rowwad Children’s Theatre Troupe (Palestinian Children’s Theatre) which was articulated by Dr. Abdelfattah Abu-Srour, the troupe's director, before the performance of Children of the Camps on June 21 at the Segal Theater of the CUNY Graduate Center to an audience of about 70 people.

The troupe is made up of six boys and five girls, ranging in age from about ten to sixteen, who are touring in the New York area and other cities in this country to raise consciousness about the situation of Palestinians on the West Bank.
Presented in the round, Children of the Camps is a multimedia presentation with dramatic scenes, video interludes and songs and dances. performed by the young actors in Arabic with projected English titles.
This is theater as testimony, with scenes of brutality, human suffering interrupted by songs of sorrow and resistance and even vibrant dances. We see scenes of the children interacting on the street and in school: playing, reading and fighting. There are brutal scenes of Palestinian refugees on the road, with old people and infants suffering and dying. The Palestinians see themselves as “refugees in our country.” During the 1948 war, 551 Arab villages were occupied by the Israelis and their residents expelled. The children sing and chant:
We are the lovers of resistance We became refugees We will never forget We have the right to study We have the right to play We have the right to be children

I am Palestinian

I ask, where is my country?

They say it doesn’t exist

We are the generation of the intifada

One scene depicts Palestinian children throwing stones at Israeli solders who respond with deadly force. At a military checkpoint, two Israeli soldiers taunt and brutalize a variety of Palestinians who are trying to pass through. In one indelible moment, a man who cannot bring his sick baby through the checkpoint lays the dead child at the feet of the soldiers.

In another scene, the actors dance with newspapers in their hands and then read the “news”, mainly about the peace negotiations between the Palestinians and the Israelis.

They dramatically read about how the peace talks for a two-state solution break down and are only half-heartedly started again with George W. Bush’s “roadmap for peace.”

The news articulated by the actors is filled with lies and hypocritical posturing. We learn at one point, ironically, that the current peace proposal is “brought to you by Coca-Cola.” The humanity of the young actors is palpable. They are young people fighting for their lives, future and their dignity as human beings. In a song and dance about birds the children sing:

Pigeons fly, pigeons fly I asked them to take peace to my country “Peace?”

Peace, what peace?

As a Jew, it is very disturbing to see the brutality of other Jews -- who had witnessed the Holocaust and seen their people killed by the Nazis -- treat the Palestinians with such brutality and disdain, in ways that attempt to break their spirit and destroy their lives.
Many years ago, Gershom Scholem, the well-known Jewish scholar of the Kabbalah who had emigrated to Palestine in the 1920's, was critical of political Zionism that treated the Arabs as the “other” in the same way that Jews had been treated throughout history. He called for a bi-national Jewish-Arab state bringing Arabs and Jews together.
With Palestinian calls for the destruction of Israel and the Palestinian “right of return”, the violence of the Israelis against the Palestinians escalates and is met by the violence of the Palestinian suicide bombers who become martyrs. Violence begets violence. Is non-violent confrontation of the brutality of the Israeli occupation in the West Bank now even possible? What about the 200,000 Israeli settlers who occupy Palestinian lands? Is there the possibility of peace and an equitable solution where Israelis and Palestinians can live together in a climate of respect?
There is a great similarity in the folk dances that the Palestinians and the Israelis perform. What if these young Palestinians and Israelis danced and spent time with each other, would another world be possible? There are a number of groups in Israel, Palestine and the U.S. which bring Israelis and Palestinians together to discuss many common issues, to promote understanding between the two groups which could lead to peace and reconciliation.
When people get to see each other as ordinary human beings, then they cease to be “others” and there is the possibility of real dialogue and ultimately a solution to seemingly intractable problems. At the end of the performance you wanted to embrace these children as your own and dance along with them. Perhaps if more people heard their testimony and saw them sing and dance their “beautiful resistance”, things could begin to change.

Al-Rowwad's Children of the Camps continues on tour in CT, VT and KY through July 10.
http://www.theater2k.com/

AMERICA'S DAILY BRIEFING FOR JUNE 20, 2004

2005-06-22T18:25:00.000+03:00

AMERICA'S DAILY BRIEFING FOR JUNE 20, 2004

CONTRARIAN COMMENTARY FOR OUT2.COM BY ANDY MARTIN

TWO DAYS LEFT: DON'T MISS THE AL-ROWWAD THEATER TROUPE NEW YORK)

(June 20, 2005)

Published at: http://www.politicalgateway.com/main/columns/read.html?col=400

I was in New York today and saw a performance of the Al-Rowwad Theater Troupe from occupied Palestine. There are two more performances in the New York area. Don't miss this group. {See www.THAWaction.org or e-mail http://aa.f301.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=alrowwadny@yahoo.com&YY=86340&order=down&sort=date&pos=0&view=a&head=b for details].

These young performers experienced what has become an embarrassing rite of passage for people around the world: being harassed by American immigration officials on arrival at Kennedy airport (more on that obscenity in a later column). But yes, these young people are subversive; they present the Palestinian perspective in a unique and irresistible way. (I may find myself on trial alongside Sami Al-Arian in Tampa for writing this column.)

The performers come from a refugee camp near Bethlehem. They are full of energy and enthusiasm. They tell the Palestinian narrative invincible) and exemplify the Palestinian spirit (indomitable). I especially encourage supporters of Israel and my Jewish friends to catch this drama.

This Palestinian Cri de Coeur could have as easily been presented by the Yiddish theater on the Lower East Side 75 years ago, "Free my people." Could "Palestinians" (Jews) of 1930 ever have conceived that 75 years later "Palestinians" (Arabs) would be singing the same song in New York City? I don't think so.

David Astor of the London Observer once called the Jews and Palestinians "two wronged peoples." Truer words were never spoken.

Why are there two wronged peoples? The theater performance begins with a dramatic reading of the Balfour Declaration, where Great Britain traded Ottoman Palestine to British Jews for the proverbial thirty pieces of silver. Lord Balfour gave away what he did not own--and then after the war betrayed the buyers when he undermined those who had purchased his favor. The perfidiousness of British money-grubbing politics to fund World War I and goad America into the conflict is laid starkly bare. Ouch.

The moral guilt persisted after World War II, when President Harry Truman, desperate for political support to reelect himself, ignored his advisers and betrayed Palestine by selling it a second time, to his American supporters.

Again the Jews were betrayed. Six thousand years of glorious Hebrew history have become bogged down in a gruesome occupation and a soul-deadening litany of human rights abuses. As Golda Meir confessed, "I can forgive you for killing my sons, but I cannot forgive you for forcing me to kill your sons."

While the Al-Rowwad dancing and singing goes on, a montage of archival film reminds us that helpless innocents were slaughtered in 1948, a fact that only recently became widely known and generally admitted in Israel.

There are many organizations committed to peaceful coexistence among the next generation. Givathaviva.org and seedsofpeace.org come quickly to mind. But Al-Rowwad performers live inside occupied Palestine every day. The occupation has been and continues to be their life. The camp is their home.

The obvious question must be presented and confronted: if after almost sixty years of terror, and almost forty years of occupation, Israel has not succeeded in defeating the Palestinian national spirit, when will Israeli leaders admit their tactics have failed and sit down to negotiate a genuine peace, instead of posturing for peace and importuning the support of right-wing extremists in the Bush administration?

Is peace possible? I believe it with my heart. Will it be easy? No way. What are we waiting for? Who is profiting from the delays?

A current German film, "Downfall," portrays the last days of Hitler. The point made is that if Hitler had surrendered earlier, millions of lives could have been saved. Hitler preferred to destroy his nation, and himself, rather than admit defeat.

Ariel Sharon has bludgeoned the Palestinian People for four years; they are stronger today than when Sharon began. Needless blood has been shed on both sides. In retrospect, Sharon will prove to have been the most disastrous leader in Israeli history. He accomplished nothing. He ensured the survival of those whom he most opposed.

But rather than the heavy hand of politics the performers remind us of their loyalty to the drama of Palestinian history. The lighter touch works.

The Al-Rowwad performance ends--too soon--with a stirring song and a glorious display of the Palestinian flag. Don't miss it.

If you support the Palestinians, you will be reminded that a new generation is coming along to carry on the fight for freedom and justice. If you are an Israeli supporter, you will be convinced that peace between two peoples, a generous peace of the brave, and not occupation and tyranny, is the only hope for survival of the Israeli state. Shalom-As Salaam. Al-Rowwad--only two days left in the New York area (Tuesday and Wednesday, June 21-22).

---------------

ANDY MARTIN is independent Contrarian Columnist and chief national and foreign correspondent for Out2.com (see Govt & Politics), based in Chicago and New York. He has also served as Baghdad Bureau Chief for Out2.com since April 2003. Martin has been involved in the Middle East for 35 years. Media contact: (866) 706-2639. Web site: andymartin.com; reactions/comments to: andymart20@aol.com

2005-06-15T21:42:00.000+03:00

We Are Children of the Camp

http://www.theatermania.com/content/show.cfm/show/112602

The Al-Rowwad theater company, based at the Aida Refugee Camp outside Bethlehem, is coming to the U.S. The NYC leg of their tour - including nights at the Barrow Street Theater and the Martin E. Segal Theater at the CUNY Graduate Center -- is scheduled for June 18 through June 22 and is made possible through the combined efforts of theater artists, grassroots activists and community supporters.
Using the theatrical and visual arts to help children whose lives are shattered by war and occupation, Al-Rowwad's Founder and Director Dr. AbdelFatteh Abu-srour has created a truly concrete example of "theaters working against war" happening on the very frontlines of violence. Dr. Abu-Srour has coined the term "beautiful resistance" to describe the Center's focus and its curriculum based on creative non-violence.

Trained in classical folkloric dance, the ensemble of five girls and six boys - Husam Alazza, Ribal Kordi, Rowa Abu-srour, Salam Alazza, Hamada Alkurdi, Woud Darkhawaja, Ikhlas Abu-srour, Ahmad Alajarma, Jehad Alajarma, Hanin Alaarj -- creates a dramatic pageant of the modern history of Palestine - from 1948 to the Oslo Peace Accords. We Are the Children of the Camps is performed in Arabic with projected English subtitles.

Schedule
Date: Saturday, June 18 at 6:00 pm

Where: Passaic Co. Technical Institute 45 Reinhardt Road, Wayne NJ T

ickets: $15 Adults/$5 Children & Youth 973-354-2521

Date: Monday, June 20 at 7:30 pm

Where: Barrow Street Theater 27 Barrow Street, NYC

Tickets: $25 General/$10 Students & Low Income 212-615-6964

Date: Tuesday, June 21 at 7:00 pm

Where: Martin E. Segal Theater CUNY Graduate Center 365 Fifth Avenue (b/w E. 34th and E. 35th Sts), NYC

Tickets: Free; Suggested donations: $20 General $10 Students & Low Income

Date: Wednesday, June 22 at 7:30

Where: Al-Noor School 675 4th Avenue at 20th Street, Brooklyn NY

Suggested Donations: $15 Adults/$5 Children & Youth 212-615-6964

2005-06-05T21:36:00.000+03:00

Letter from 6 American Playwrights

Dear Friends,
We are writing you to ask your help in bringing eleven Palestinian children - five boys and six girls, aged eleven to sixteen - to the United States this summer to perform in theatres in four American cities: New York, New York; East Norwich, Connecticut; Burlington, Vermont; and Louisville, Kentucky. They are students of the Al-Rowwad Cultural and Theatre Training Center in the Aida Refugee Camp, outside Bethlehem in the West Bank, where they were born.

The Al-Rowwad children will be led by the Center's founder and artistic director, Dr. AbdelFattah Abu-Srour. Familiarly called Abed, he has given these refugee children an alternative to the violence that surrounds them and teaches them non-violent and artistic ways to combat the harshness and seeming hopelessness of camp life.

Although Abed holds a doctorate from the University of Paris in Biological and Medical Engineering and is employed at a pharmaceutical plant, he also trained in theatre in Paris during his study there to earn his science degree. This theatre training, in addition to his vision and creativity, led Abed to give the children of the camp instruction in dramatics, puppetry, dancing, languages, computers, and other subjects, depending upon what volunteer teachers he had available. Central to his curriculum is the idea that peace and hope must rule the children's lives, and that opposition to oppression must be creative non-violence, a "beautiful resistance,' as he calls it. In this way Abed is improving the lives and skills of his pupils, and giving them a healthful and creative way of living in an oppressive environment.

The purpose of the trip is to help expand the children's horizons, and to show them they are loved and respected by our country; in turn, Americans can learn what Palestinians are like and to see them for the human beings that they are. The trip would also give the Aida Camp children the opportunity to meet and make friends with American children and to promote mutual understanding.
Please help us to complete the funding of this three-week trip by making a donation to the tour's fiscal sponsor, The Peace and Justice Center. Checks should be written out to The Peace and Justice Center with a note in the memo line that says MECE (Middle Eastern Cultural Exchange)-New York tour. They should be mailed to: The Peace and Justice Center, Attention: Wendy Coe, 21 Church Street, Burlington, Vermont 05401. Also, you are invited to see the children perform in New York theatres, where they will appear from June 17-22. So far, scheduling for the New York leg of the tour includes plans for performances at the United Nations; the City University of New York Graduate Center's Martin E. Segal Theater on 34d Street and 5th Avenue; The Barrow Street Theatre in The Village; and at two New York City public schools. Performance schedules will be available when planning is completed.
Please open your heart to these children so we can help confirm their vision of peace and hope and also show them that a lot of people care about what happens to them.

Sincerely yours,

The following signatories are six American playwrights who visited Al- Rowwad in the Aida Camp and Israel in June 2002. They are:
Tony Kushner,
Kia Korthron,
Robert O'Hara,
Lisa Schlesinger,
Betty Shamieh, and
Naomi Wallace.

http://www.artistsnetwork.org/artists/tkushner.html
NYC

In coalition with theater artists, grassroots activists and community supporters, THAW and Kathleen Chalfant, Tony Kushner, Denis O'Hare, Danny Hoch, Malachy McCourt, Andre Gregory, Anne Waldman, Kia Corthron, Robert O'Hara, Betty Shamieh

Invite you to
BEAUTIFUL RESISTANCE

A benefit evening in support of the Al-Rowwad Palestinian Children's Theater
Monday, June 13 at the Culture Project

Scheduled Benefit performers include: Tony Kushner, Denis O'Hare, NPR's Bob Holman, Henry Chalfant, Anne Waldman, Kia Corthron, Betty Shamieh, Juliana Francis, Matana Roberts, Alan Licht, Mahina Movement, Paul Brill, Maysoon Zayid and Nibras' Leila Buck and Najla Said, Nathalie Handal, Adam Matta, Betsy Andrews, Brian Satz & Jose Joaquin Garcia

Taking place courtesy of THAW Member Theater Nevada Shakespeare Company during a dark night of their run of A Single Woman, the benefit features an array of acclaimed playwrights, poets, theater performers and musicians, all in support of this extraordinary troupe of young people.

In late June 2005, the Al-Rowwad theater company, based at the Aida Refugee Camp outside Bethlehem, will be coming to the U.S. for a 4-city tour. Al-Rowwad's Founder and Director Dr. "Abed" Abu-srour uses the creative arts, or "a beautiful resistance, " as he puts it, to help children whose lives are shattered by war and occupation -- truly a concrete example of "theaters working against war" happening on the very frontlines of violence.

Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright and supporter of the Benefit, Tony Kushner echoes Abed in maintaining that, "Central to Al-Rowwad's curriculum is the idea that peace and hope must rule the children's lives, and that opposition to oppression must be creative non-violence, a 'beautiful resistance.' " Kushner was joined by fellow playwrights Naomi Wallace, Lisa Schlesinger, Kia Corthron, Robert O'Hara and Betty Shamieh on an extensive visit to the camp in 2002. Al-Rowwad's U.S. tour is a modest but concrete step forward in the process of building peace in the Middle East and overcoming the harmful stereotypes that the conflict has created.

Music Performances *** Readings *** Drinks *** Hors-d'oeuvres*** Silent Auction
Scheduled Benefit performers include: Tony Kushner, Denis O'Hare, NPR's Bob Holman, Henry Chalfant, Anne Waldman, Kia Corthron, Betty Shamieh, Juliana Francis, Matana Roberts, Alan Licht, Mahina Movement, Paul Brill, Maysoon Zayid and Nibras' Leila Buck and Najla Said, Nathalie Handal, Adam Matta, Betsy Andrews, Brian Satz & Jose Joaquin Garcia
Silent Auction items include gift certificates to performances at SoHo Rep; Artwork by Richard Foreman, Vanessa Roe, Heidi, Elbow Toe; Dinners for two at Restauarant Florent, , Aliseo, Read Café, Amorina; Sessions at the Pilates Garage and more.

WHEN: Monday, June 13 at 7:30 pm - Doors open at 7 pmWHERE: THE CULTURE PROJECT@ 45 Bleecker: 45 Below - the corner of Bleecker and LafayetteSUBWAYS: 6 to Bleecker; B/D/V/F to Broadway - Lafayette; N/R to 8th StreetADMISSION: $30 advance reservation; $35 at the door -- Cash and checks, onlyAdvanced reservations can be made by sending an email to: THAWreservations@yahoo.com Please include your name, contact information and number of tickets requested.For more information, call 212-615-6964
Can't make the Benefit?

Theaters Against War is an international network of theater artists responding to the United States' ongoing "War on Terror," aggressive and unilateral foreign policies, and escalating attacks on civil liberties in the US and throughout the world. THAW is a 2004 OBIE grant recipient.
www.THAWaction.org

2005-06-02T21:05:00.000+03:00

Middle East dance troupe to perform in Corner
Register Citizen Staff

published 02 June 2005 on: http://www.registercitizen.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=14628099&BRD=1652&PAG=461&dept_id=12530&rfi=6

Northwest Connecticut is in for a cultural treat this month when the Al Rowwad Children’s Theater, a troupe from a Palestinian refugee camp, performs a play and traditional Middle Eastern dances here.

On Friday, June 24 at 8 p.m., Al Rowwad Center Children’s Theater will perform the play "We Are the Children of the Camp" at Housatonic Valley Regional High School in Falls Village.

On Saturday, June 25 at 5:30 p.m., Al Rowwad will also participate in the 13th Annual Grove Festival at the Town Grove on Lake Wononscopomuc in Salisbury where they will perform Dabka, traditional Palestinian dances. The festival is sponsored by Project Troubadour, a nonprofit organization that builds bridges of peace and friendship throughout the world through the universal language of music.

These events offer unique opportunities to experience Palestinian culture while enhancing knowledge of the realities of the daily lives of children under military occupation. Connecticut is one of four states hosting Al Rowwad on its first United States tour. The children will also perform in New York City, Vermont and Kentucky.

Established in 1998 by Abdelfattah Abu-Srour, Al Rowwad Children’s Theater and Cultural Training Center provides artistic and theatrical training for children in and around Aida Refugee camp in Bethlehem, Palestine. Aida Refugee Camp is home to 4,500 refugees from 35 Palestinian villages in what is now Israel. Al Rowwad means "the pioneer." Both the staff and children at Al Rowwad are pioneers in attempting to provide relief from and alternatives to the daily violence of occupation by teaching and practicing peaceful means of self-expression - poetry, theater, dance and film. "All those who work with culture work against war," Abu-Srour said, quoting Albert Einstein.Abu-Srour, a scientist, returned from France to Palestine in 1994 during the post-Oslo period when hopes for peace were high. Since 2000, he has taken the children to perform in Sweden, Denmark, Egypt and France.

"These exchanges fulfill a central role at Al Rowwad. They project positive images of Palestinian children to the outside world, as opposed to the violent representation often portrayed by most media outlets. It’s also important that these children know what is normal life, without checkpoints and to continue to have hope," Abu-Srour said. For the past seven years, Al Rowwad has nourished that hope for more than 800 children. The troupe arrives in Connecticut on June 23.

©The Register Citizen 2005

Conference in London

2005-05-22T23:20:00.000+03:00

Conference in London

Dr. Abdelfattah Abu-Srour, director of Alrowwad Center was invited by Al-Awda - Right of Return Coalition in London, UK for a commemoration Event-Conference on the occasion of the 57th year of An-Nakba. The event, which was coorganized and which took place in SOAS-University of London included 2 films, and an intervention by Dr. Abdelfattah Abu-Srour, Dr. Nur Masalha, Dr. Azm Bishara and Dr. Mahmoud Issa.
Alrowwad director, during his stay (May 13th to 18th) visited also Board members of Hoping Foundation: Bella Freud in London, and Dr. Karma Nabulsi in Oxford, as well as Qattan Foundation in London.

Performances Tour In USA June 17th to July 10th, 2005

2005-05-05T22:14:00.000+03:00

New York
Friday, June 17
Arrive in New York City at 16:30. (New York schedule will be coming soon. Thank you New York!)

Saturday, June 18

12 noon - Sally (van) and Shannon (car) drive the group to lunch at an Arabic restaurant near DUMBO (generously paid for by Maysoon Zaid), Brooklyn with the Palestine National Theater group (6 men group who are only here in the US until Saturday night!)

1:30-2 pm - Sally and Shannon drive the group out to Wayne

6 pm - Performance in Wayne, New Jersey.

PM - Meal afterward at Arabic restaurant in Wayne (right?)

Sunday, June 19

Morning till 4 pm - Sally and Shannon drive the group to Coney Island!!
Swimming at the beach and 12-4pm tickets for unlimited rides at Astroland Amusement Park (Asia- we need to order these soon, right?)
Lunch at Nathan's Hotdogs (kosher!)

5:00 pm - Sally and Shannon drive group to midtown. Sally returns van to rental place.

6:30 pm - group attends 7 pm performance of "Sweet Charity" on Broadway and meet Denis O'hare on stage after the show. Light meal afterwards.

Monday, June 20

Morning and early afternoon- Group to take Staten Island ferry past the Statute of Liberty. Then a walk up the west side of manhattan from Battery Park through all of the new "lower westside parks".

2:30 pm - Lunch at Henry and Kathleen Chalfant's home in the West Village (donated!) - Denis O'Hare (from Sweet Charity) should also be at this lunch too!

7:30 pm - Barrow Street Theater performance

Tuesday, June 21

Mid-afternoon: Go up to the 86th floor viewing station of the Empire State Building.
7 pm - Performance at the Martin E. Segal Theater (based in the CUNY Graduate Center on 34th St and 5th Ave)

Wednesday, June 22

2:30-5:30 - Nibras Arab-American Theater Company hosts a theater workshop for the children at the Al-Noor School in Brooklyn - light snack provided

7 pm - Performance at the Al-Noor School and dinner afterwards in Brooklyn.

Thursday, June 23

12 noon - Grand Central Station - group takes 12 noon train off to Connecticut!

Connecticut:

Thursday, June 23
Leave New York City for Falls Village, Connecticut. Al-Rowwad troupe arrives in Falls Village – Bob McLean will transport them here. Troupe will have dinner at Gail's house, hang out, maybe tour around the area in the evening. Possible newspaper interview for the next day’s paper to also advertise the performance.

Friday, June 24
Rehearsal at the high school some time during the day. Performance of ``We Are the Children of the Camp” at the high school at 8 p.m.

Saturday, June 25
Sound check at the Town Grove in Lakeville at 3 p.m. Dabka performance at the Grove Festival for approximately 50 minutes beginning at 5:30 p.m. Spend the rest of the evening at the festival.

Sunday, June 26
Drive to Charter Oak Center in Hartford (about one hour away) to arrive by 11:30 to rehearse for 2:30 p.m. performance of ``We Are the Children of the Camp.” Return to Falls Village for the evening.

Monday, June 27
Free day – depending on the weather: Sleep late, go to the lake to swim/canoe/kayak, go for a hike on the Appalachian Trail, go shopping, go to the movies, have a picnic, other – maybe all of the above!

Vermont
Tuesday, June 28
The troupe leaves for Vermont. We will either drive the troupe to Vermont or to Albany, NY where they will take a bus to Vermont.Burlington, VermontTuesday, June 27: Arrival from Connecticut. Pot luck at Nancy Farrell's. If it's warm, we take potluck to North Beach

Wednesday, June 29
Bike to organic farm. Pick strawberries. Soccer game with pen-pals from Lawrence Barnes school. Swim. Rainy day: Science Museum. Evening: bike to cookout at the Donaths, from Sister Cities: Burlington-Bethlehem-Arad.

Thursday, June 30
Gentle morning, laundry, showers. Afternoon: Lunch on Church Street, buying presents for families and those who couldn't come. Tour Peace and Justice Center. Interview with press. 4:30 rehearsal at City Hall. Contois Auditorium Performance 7:00 p.m. After theater: pizza in the park.

Friday, July 1
Visit Ben and Jerry's ice cream factory in Waterbury. Possible: slide in Stow and/or swim in waterfalls. Picnic hosted by Women in Black and Wilpf in Montpelier.6:00 performance Trinity Methodist Church. Snacks and drive to Wheeler Mountain farm in Hardwick

Saturday, July 2
Breakfast at the farm. All day with Peter Schumann's famous puppets. Break for picnic and swim. Evening: return to Wheelock farmSunday, July 3: Performance with Bread and Puppet Circus, Glover, Vermont, 3:00 p.m. Return to Burlington

Louisville, Kentucky
Monday, July 4
Flight to Louisville, Kentucky. Arrival by 5pm.Louisville, KentuckyMonday, July 4: Airport Welcome by Louisville Friends of Al-Rowwad with media invited. Community Welcome Dinner hosted by the nationally renowned River City Drum Corps' Ed White and Zambia Nkrumah at their center. Meal by Ramsi's Restaurant. Stay at Urban Spirit, an antipoverty community center hosting the housing and all breakfasts for the Louisville visit.

Tuesday, July 5
Morning and afternoon join local children from Bosnia, Haiti, Cuba and others lands participating in the Summer Program hosted by Americana Community Center. Opportunity for performance of dance. Lunch at Americana. Opportunity for Al-Rowwad teachers and Friends of Al-Rowwad to dialogue while children have playtime at the Americana Center.

Wednesday, July 6
All day drum workshop and puppet workshop with local children at West Broadway United Methodist Church. Facilitated by River City Drum Corps, Squallis Puppeteers and other community puppeteers. Lunch by the justice community of West Broadway United Methodist Church. Drumming/puppet/dance performance in Shawnee/Chickasaw Park and picnic dinner.

Thursday, July 7
Morning and early afternoon time to visit around Louisville. To University of Louisville's Thrust Theater for rehearsal for evening performance. Return to Urban Spirit to rest, clean up and have a snack. Performance of "We are the Children of the Camp" at the University of Louisville Thrust Theater at 7pm. Reception with audience after performance.

Friday, July 8
"Master Class" in theater skills with Stage One Children's Theater and tour of the Kentucky Center for the Arts. Lunch provided by Stage One. Return to Urban Spirit to rest up and prepare for evening performance. Community Festival at Urban Spirit featuring local artists and Al-Rowwad dance performance

Saturday, July 9
All day play day with local youth invited. Travel to Moncada Farms, about 30 minutes from Urban Spirit. Visit Henry's Ark animal zoo to play with and feed the animals (goats and camels and buffalo, etc.)Swimming and volleyball and other games around the swimming pool and picnic for lunch and for dinner.

Sunday, July 10
Leave for New York and fly on to Amman the same day.

Annual Report 2004

2005-04-27T08:22:00.000+03:00

Annual Report

2004

Prepared by Abdelfattah Abusrour, PhD
General Director

Contents

1. Vision and aims of Alrowwad Center
2. Administrative sturcture of Alrowwad Center
2.1. Board Members
2.2. General Assembly
2.3. Volunteers
2.3.1. Local Volunteers
2.3.2. International Volunteers
2.4. The Friends of Alrowwad
3. Political and Social Climate
4. Administrative Report
4.1. Activities units
4.2. Local Partners
4.3. International Partners
4.4. Services for Guests, Visitors and Volunteers
4.5. Media Work and international
Participations
4.6. General Evaluation
4.7. Aknowledgments

Alrowwad is a cultural and theatre training centre, established in 1998 and registered under law Number 1 of Charitable Societies and Non-governmental Associations, 2000, by the Ministry of Interior of the Palestinian National Authority under the Licence Number BL-360-CU.

http://alrowwad.virtualactivism.net/
Bethlehem. P.O.Box 989 - Palestine
Mobile: 057 446 420 Telefax: +(970)2 275 0030
Email alrowwad@p-ol.com, or alrowwadtheatre@yahoo.com
====================================================================

1. Vision and aims of Alrowwad Center

Al-Rowwad is an independent, dynamic, community-based centre which encourages healthy childhood development by focusing on behaviour, knowledge, concepts and practices.

Mandate:
Al-Rowwad targets the community at large in Bethlehem district while concentrating on the local community of Aida Camp. The centre aims to have the full capability to mobilize human, technical and financial resources to achieve a dynamic and effective change within the targeted community.

Developmental Objectives:
1. To empower children to achieve and enhance self-confidence and self-expression, openness and a sense of belonging through training and awareness campaigns.
2. To strengthen the local community through exposure to ICT and literacy, and to conserve knowledge of indigenous traditions and cultural heritage.
3. To build the institutional and human capacity of Al-Rowwad.

Specific Objectives:
1. To establish a theatre group that strives for a gradual change in society, and allows children to respond to needs arising from stress and confinement.
2. To carry out tailored and specialized training courses to enhance children’s capacity towards managing change.
3. To promote the children’s awareness of the community by employing various tools such as theatre, dance, puppets, art, animation…etc.
4. To carry out needs assessment within the community to respond to priorities within the mandate of the centre.
5. To equip the centre with information and communication technology in order to strengthen networking and the exchange of information.
6. To establish an effective organizational structure with clear rules and regulations as well as clear terms of reference for qualified and volunteer staff.

Outcomes:
1- Improved self expression, confidence and knowledge ;
2- Enhanced sense of belonging and belief in a better future;
3- Increased networking and cultural exchange;
4- Establishment of a durable institution with qualified and experienced staff.

Inputs:
Al-Rowwad will strive to find donors and/or establish partnerships with local and international institutions.

Constraints:
Lack of funding and volatile political conditions.

2. Administrative sturcture of Alrowwad Center

2.1. Board Members
The board is composed of 7 people who are the founding committee and the voluteers in the center:
1. Dr. Abdelfattah Abusrour
2. Anwar Addibs
3. Adnan Hamdan
4. Ibrahim Abusrour
5. Adnan Alajarma
6. Samir Odeh
7. Bassam Abuaker

Elections for a new board shall take place during the Spring 2005.

2.2. General Assembly (Membership)
The board of administration decided to present membership forms for the year 2005 to the parents of the children and active volunteers in the cultural and artistic domains.

2.3. Volunteers
2.3.1. Local Volunteers
1. Dr. Abdelfattah Abusrour: Writting and Directing, filming and video editing, animation movies, theatre training. General Director (Executive and Artistic)
2. Anwar Addibs: drawing, puppets, sound technician, and activities follow-up (Resigned from the board, but remained as volunteer)
3. Azhar Abusrour: Dabka-Folkloric dance training
4. Issa Abusrour Theatre training
5. Mohammad Awwad: Theatre training
6. Raed Tailakh: Computer training
7. Ruba Abusrour: Health and dental care
8. Adnan Hamdan: Board member
9. Ibrahim Abusrour: Board member
10. Adnan Alajarma: Board member
11. Samir Odeh: Board member
12. Ishaq Odetallah: Board member (Resigned because of his work)
13. Wisam Abusrour : Technical assistant
14. Nahil Albarbari : Women activities
15. Mohammad Hassan Abusrour : Dabka training

2.3.2. International Volunteers

1. France
1.1. JC Fouché, M. Galbi et S. Fourest : Video workshops
1.2. Nadège: Formation of animators
1.3. Frédéric: Ceramics
1.4. Saliha Boustar: French Classes
1.5. Rohi Ayadi: association A. Dreams
1.6. Alkamandjati Association: Music

2. Egypt:
2.1. Samira Alkassim, American University in Cairo

3. Switzerland:
3.1. Marie-Anne: English and French classes

4. USA:
4.1. Artists against the Occupation: Puppets and art workshops
4.2. Sharon et Lorena: Puppets and English classes
4.3. Dr. R. Barakat- First aid workshops and English classes

5. Italy:
5.1. Michele : Music Teaching Violin
5.2. Claudia : Teaching Violin

2.4. The Friends of Alrowwad
Alrowwad worked on strengthening relations with the Friends of Alrowwad in France. Dr. Abdelfattah Abusrour, the director of Alrowwad, was elected as vice president of the Friends of Alrowwad Association in France.
Alrowwad also helped foster the creation of a Friends of Alrowwad Association in the United States, where famous playwrights Tony Kushner and Naomi Wallace agreed to be members of the Board of Directors. Other friends of Alrowwad include local and international individuals and organizations, that have contributed help and advise to Alrowwad.

3. General Climate
The only head office of Alrowwad is located in Aida refugee camp. The center is composed of 2 main rooms, 16 square meters each, and a small office. The first room is used as a computer training center, a modest library, and a training room for different educational and guidance workshops as well as a meeting room. The second room is completely empty, and is used mainly for theatre and dance training and different artistic workshops.
Aida camp was created after the war of 1948 and deportation of palestinians from their own lands, towns and villages. Actually, it has a population of about 4,500 people originated from 35 different villages which were destroyed by zionist forces. About 66% of the population are under 18 years old, and 45% are under 15 years old. The camp is deprived from empty and green spaces for children or people, or playgrounds. Only the narrow streets are available for people to express themselves.
The camp has actually a youth center, a woman center, 2 cultural centers and one cultural and theatre training center (Alrowwad). The camp also has 2 schools supervised by the UNRWA.
The location of Aida refugee is special for many reasons: It is almost a border zone at the north of Bethlehem, south of Alquds-Jerusalem.
Aida is dominated by Gilo, an Israeli settlement colony at its northwestern side, and by an Israeli military camp to the east, which is located in the Mosque of Bilal Ibn Rabah, also called Rachel’s Tomb). The main military checkpoint between Bethlehem and Alquds is also located at the north eastern side of the camp.
Since April 2002, during the long invasion of Bethlehem, the Israeli military occupation forces started to dig the foundations of the separation wall along the northern side of the camp on the lands belonging to the Armenian Church as well as on private properties belonging to Palestinian citizens at the northwest and west of Aida Camp.
Because of Aida’s location, and the illegal construction of the apartheid wall, the camp is now isolated from the bit of green space and places where children used to play.
Occupation soldiers do not miss any occasion to enter the camp and provoke the children and other residents just by their illegal presence, but also by their violent practices, shooting tear gas and rubber bullets, or live amunition. Aida refugee camp has seen many of its children and men and women massacred even in their own houses. The camp has lived through many incursions and reinvasions since 2001, and they continue even these days.
But the year 2004 was distinguished by large scale arrests of young people and children of the camp. Since January 2004, more than 130 people have been arrested, and about 70% are under 18 years old. Most of them are still in prison, and still waiting to be judged even after more than one year in prison. Most of the children are accused of throwing stones at the israeli soldiers invading the camp, or unspecified ``conspiracy’’ against the Occupation State of Israel.
During this year, as in the previous years, Alrowwad played a major role in continuing its educational in languages, assistance in school programs, psychological follow up, health care and artistic activities, focusing on the children and their mothers and /or other women.
Responding to the needs of the local community was Alrowwad’s main priority. Alrowwad also worked on building the internal capacities of its team and animators in the artistic as well as educational domains. During this year as well, Alrowwad worked to provide the center with some major equipment to help it to continue its activities on a regular schedule. Alrowwad also focused on networking and opening new channels with local and international institutions.

4. Administrative Report

4.1. Activities units
Alrowwad center’s activities were distinguished this year by their variety, and by targetting new groups, including men and women teachers in the girls and boys schools in the camp. The table below demonstrates the activities of the center during the year 2004, and the total beneficiaries from its activities.

No. - Date - Activity - Target Group - Animator - # direct Beneficiaries

Video Filming and Editing
1. February: Video Filming and Editing workshops - Animateurs, school teachers; young people
- JC Fouché, M. Galbi et S. Fourestier - 19
2. June - Video filming - Children - Samira Alkasim - 25
3. Summer- Autumn - Dessins animés - Children - Alrowwad team - 100 (4 groupes)
4. July - Video filming - Children - Dr: A. Abusrour - 17

Animators and board members specialized training
5. March - Administration and Institutionalization- Board members- S. Zarzour - 6
6. August- Animators formation - Children and Animators - Nadège - 22
7. October/December - Refugees rights-resolutions 181 and 194 -

- Children and animators In collaboration with Badil Center - 22

Arts workshops
8. June-September: Drawing /painting workshops - Children - Anwar Eddibs - 20
9. August: Ceramics - Children and Animators - Frédéric - 22
10. Summer: Games and Art workshops - Children
- Medecin students from USA, Europe and French volunteers - 50
11. October: Art workshops and puppets- Children and Animators -
- Artists against occupation: Freda and Deborah - 19

Languages
12.June-August: English language - Children - Dr. R. Barakat - 45

July: Lorena and Sharon Wallace- 45

13. August to January: English and French - Children and Adults - Marie-Anne - 22
14. September 2004 to Mars 2005: French -Children and adults in Alrowwad, Aida schools, Students Forum - Saliha Boustar - 100 (6 groups)

Theatre Training
15. August: Theatre - Children Aida, Azza and Deheisha camps - Art Dreams - 12

Computer Training – Entraînement à l’usage de l’ordinateur
16. Summer: Computer training - Adults and animators - Raed Tailakh - 24

Health and Psychological workshops
17. July-August: Health care and First Aid - Children - Dr. R. Barakat - 45
18. Summer-Autumn: Dental Health - Children - Dr. R. Abusrour - 27
19. Since Septembre : Music-Violin teaching - Children - Mechele and Claudia - 8
20. Summer: Games and Psychological follow up - Children and mothers -

in collaboration with YMCA, UNRWA, Arab Rehabilitation Center - 140 (8 groups)

Music
21. July: Music workshops - Children - Alkamandjati - 30

External visits
22. Summer: Educational professional visits: to handcrafts professionals, manufacturing plants, hospitals, industrial plants - Children - Animators - 160 (6 visits)

Daily and Weekly Continuous Activities – Activités Permanentes
23. weekly: Video projections - Children - Alrowwad - 15 to 30
24. weekly - Violin classes - Children - Mechele and Claudia - 8
25. Continuous: External shows and plays in Dar Ennadwa; Peqce Center; Inad Theatre
Children - Animators - 190 (7 shows)
26. Continuous: Participation in local initiatives and activities organized by other centers, institutions, Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Sports and Youth- Children -Animators - 170
27. Continuous: - Fun days: local excursions to swimming pools and parks in Beit Jala and Beit Sahour - Children and animators - Animators - 190 (6 trips)
28. Continuous: - Theatre and Dabka Dance - Children - Animators - 43
29. Continuous: Computer training - Children - Raed Tailakh - 16/month

Total number of direct beneficiaries from the activities: 1,596 people

4.2. Local Partners (Partners, Volunteers and Donors)
- UNRWA: United Nations Relief and Welfare Agency + Holy SEE
- UNDP: United Nations Development Program
- UNV: United Nations Volunteers Programme
- The Palestinian Red Crescent
- Theatre Day Productions
- UN Schools in the camp
- Medical Relief
- Student Forum-Bethlehem
- Local Universities : Bethlehem University, Alquds Open University-Bethlehem, Alquds (Abu Dis University)
- Badil Center
- the Popular Committee of the camp

4.3. International Partners 2004
- Friends of Alrowwad – France
- Hotel de France – Angers-France
- Friends of Alrowwad - USA
- Association Interculturelle Carrefour-France
- association A. Dreams- France
- Hoping Foundation
- Alkamandjati Association
- UNESCO Club- France

4.4. Services for Delegations, Visitors and Volunteers
During the year 2004, Alrowwad has received many delegations, visitors and volunteers from different countries including Germany, Japan, France, Italy, Belgium, European Parliament, UK, USA, Finland and Canada. Alrowwad has presented its activities, and explained the general political, social and economical situation. We have described the particular situation of Aida camp in the second Intifada as well as after the illegal construction of the Apartheid Wall, which limits the northern and eastern sides of the camp, and the violations of the Israeli occupation army towards the camp and its inhabitants.

As for those visitors and volunteers who wanted to stay in Aida, Alrowwad has provided them with a place to stay, either in the center or with families.

4.5. Media & international participations
Several articles and poems have been published for Dr. Abdelfattah Abusrour, the general director of Alrowwad Center, which focus on the general situation and the particular conditions and events in the camp.

Dr. Abusrour has also participated in ``Concert pour la Palestine” in Paris, where he spoke to an audience of 15,000 people, and particiapted in a series of conferences and meetings in France. The main focus of his presentations concerned Palestinian nonviolent resistance, and the rights of Palestinian refugees to return to their own villages and lands from which they were ethnically cleansed. He also urged the international community and the solidarity associations to look at the Palestinain situation not as a mere humanitarian case, but in terms of international law and justice in which an entire population is living under an illegal military occupation by a lawless state with no respect for international law, United Nations resolutions, or human and children’s rights.

Dr. Abusrour also visited USA to organize a performance tour for the Alrowwad troupe in the summer 2005, and participated in a series of conferences and meetings, and a poetry event in Berkley, California, with American and other international poets where he read some of his poems.

Dr. Abusrour has also participated in a conference about Palestinian theatre with other Palestinian theatre people during a visit to Belgium.

Dr. Abusrour has published articles and anthology called, “Live from Palestine,” and in the French magazine "Alternatives Non-violentes"

Alrowwad has replied to many email requests seeking information about the center’s activitites and policies, the political situation in Palestine conditions of Aida camp, Palestinian theatre in general, and deatails about how Alrowwad works.

4.6. General Evaluation
Almost 1,600 people profited directly from the activities of Alrowwad during the year 2004.

The needs of the local community were Alrowwad’s first priorities. In the year 2002-2003, the center provided 8,000 Euors in scholarships for 15 university students in the first semester, and $16,000 US for 54 students in the second semester. Alrowwad has also helped needy families in the camp by providing about 9,500 NIS.

Alrowwad has also organized different educational workshops including teaching English, French, and computer for children and adult men and women.
On the technical side, video filming and editing workshops were provided to teach skills for potential future jobs. Nineteen adults and 25 children benefited from the workshops. Animation movies workshops were also on the program where more than 100 children participated.

As for educational, guidance and awareness, psychological follow up, and children’s rights, Alrowwad collaborated with and provided its space for the Arab Rehabilitation Center, the Palestinian Red Crescent, and the YMCA. Such workshops included children, teenagers and mothers.

Alrowwad also works continuously with the Popular Committee in the camp to link with educational institutions and schools both in the camp and outside, as well as with UNRWA responsibles to make sure they fulfil their responsibility to provide a better education, and to follow up on children’s academic progress.

During the last years, Alrowwad with the help of the Friends of Alrowwad has also enlarged its activities to include an embroidery job creation project for women in Aida and Beit Jibrin camp.

Alrowwad has tried hard to include the families in its activities and also to get their feed back and evaluation of Alrowwad’s role; however, participation was less than we hoped, despite the many meetings with parents. According to some parents, this absence is mostly related to the poor facility we actually have.

Alrowwad’s major achievement for this year was the purchase of a small piece of land in the camp to build Alrowwad Center, which we believe will build on and fulfill the role that Alrowwad plays in the camp and the neighborhoods. This project was mainly financed by the Friends of Alrowwad. The UNDP will supervise the financing of the building of one or two floors through a German project. The building will include a multipurpose area for the use of the local community. Alrowwad’s general director will work on fundraising in the coming two years to build another two floors which will include a computer center, a library, an exhibition hall, video-audio studios.

4.7. Acknowledgments
Alrowwad would like to thank all those who contributed and participated in the support of Alrowwad financially or morally. Special thanks to our firends: Abdallah Allaham, Ziad Shrea, Mounir Qleibo-UNDP, Jean Claude Ponsin-President of the Friends of Alrowwad-France, Elisabeth Dilas, Gilbert Emmanuel, Bernard Bouyer and Hotel de France-Angers, Jean Charles Fouché, Monya Galbi, Sébastien Forestier, Lubna Modieh, Fernande Delaby, Les amis du théâtre Alrowwad –France, The friends of Alrowwad-USA specially : Nancy Farrell, Carla, Naomi and Sharon Wallace, Sonia De Vries, Kem Ead, Sra Desantis, Gale Courey Toensing, Dr. Marlyn Tadros, Dr. Robert McLean, Dr. Robert Lipton, Tony Kushner, Dr. Karma Nabulsi, Daniel Ouanes, Dr; Samia Mehrez, Amy Mina, Dr. Ian Douglas, Samira ALqassim, Mounir Mansour, Abu Hassan, Wajih Attallah, Ramzi Aburadwan, Alkamandjati, and all the volunteers.

Activities of Alrowwad Cultural and Theatre Training Center during the period December 15th, 2004 to March 15th, 2005

2005-03-16T17:02:00.000+02:00

Activities of Alrowwad Cultural and Theatre Training Center during the period December 15th, 2004 to March 15th, 2005

Prepared By: Ibrahim Abusrour
Edited by: Dr. Abdelfattah Abusrour
Translated by: Dr. Abdelfattah Abusrour

December-04
1. Workshops with the team of Alrowwad on the right of return for Palestinian refugees and UN resolutions 181 and 194. Badil center contributed by 1200 NIS for this training.

2. Starting Dance workshops with children for 3 months with a French volunteer.

January-05
1. Jan, 1st, 2005: Distribution of gifts on 37 children in Aida camp in Alrowwad center, on the occasion of the new year. Gifts were donated by the Palestinians living in Chili, Aida camp popular committee and Alrowwad center.

2. Jan, 5th: Meeting with the Association Defence Children International (DCI), in presence of Dr. Abdelfattah Abusrour (Alrowwad director) and Ibrahim Abusrour, and from DCI, the director Hisham Khalil and Mohammad Awad. The meeting had for purpose to introduce each association to the other, and to discuss possibilities of future collaborations between the two associations.

3. Jan, 8th: Meeting with Norwegian auditor n the activities of Children cultural center in Bethlehem, Nora Angdal.

4. Jan, 6-12th : Continuing Theatre workshops collaboration with A. Dreams Association- Rohi Ayadi: Second workshop in Nazareth.

5. Jan, 8th: Meeting with the sociology specialist Ms. Nihad Alhanash from the Red Crescent, and put in place training workshops for Women (mothers) in the camp on how top deal with their families, children, stress and crisis (2 hours weekly).

6. Jan 8th: 2 weeks theatre training workshops in French by Maud, a French volunteer.

7. Jan, 9th: A meeting with an Italian delegation, headed by the music teacher in Italy, Francisco Safiro. The delegation was introduced to the activities of Alrowwad Center, and were taken in a tour in the camp, and observed the effect of the separation wall on the social and economic life of the population in the camp, and the reflect of that on the children. An agreement was made to put in place a mail exchange between Alrowwad children and the children of an Italian school in Rome.

8. Jan, 10th: Meeting with the Psychoanalyst Charlie Zeidan, and agreement to organize workshops on the rights of children for children 10-12 years old, twice a week for 2 months in Alrowwad center.

9. Jan, 14th: A good bye party to Mary-Anne, a Swiss volunteer who taught English and French in Alrowwad.

10. Jan, 14th: A good bye party to Mary-Anne, a Swiss volunteer who taught English and French in Alrowwad.

11. Jan, 14th: Meeting with 3 volunteers from Churches unions. They were introduced to the activities of the center, and an agreement was made to have a volunteer to teach English twice a week. A discussion also was about opening channels of cooperation between Alrowwad and one of the theatre schools in England, and work on a cultural exchange with one of the british institutes.

12. Jan, 18th: A celebration with the children of the camp, on the occasion of Al-Adha Feast. The celebration included music playing and artistic performances, as well as gifts distribution by Aida popular committee and Alrowwad center.

13. Jan, 18th: A social visit to one of Alrowwad volunteers after a surgery (Mohamad Awwad).

14. Jan, 19th: A meeting with an American delegation from the Lutheran church, introducing Alrowwad center, and tour in Aida camp.

15. Jan, 23rd: A visit of the Friends of Alrowwad from France. The delegation have visited some of the prisoners families, to demonstrate solidarity with these families. A summary of latest activities in Alrowwad was presented as well as future plans, and finalization of the purchase of a house in the camp for Alrowwad, with large contributions from our French friends.

16. Jan, 24th: Visits with the French delegation to the DCI, Hanzala Center in Beit Jibrin camp, the Church of the Nativity, as well as a visit to the embroidery women team in Aida and Beit Jibrin camps.

17. Jan, 24th: Visit of 14 members of the Lutheran church to the camp and the center.

18. Jan, 28th: A meeting with DCI movement, and an agreement to exchange information about the Israeli army violations of human and children rights during arrests, and construction of the separation wall.

February-05
1. Feb, 3rd: Celebration and dinner on the honor of 2 friends of Alrowwad, Abdallah Allaham, UNDP employee, who is leaving the country to Jordan, and Ziad Shreia, for their commitment to Alrowwad center.

2. Feb, 4th: Participation by activity upon invitation with the DCI in the YMCA in Beit Sahour, among 15 other institutions in Bethlehem area… Theatre sketches, art and painting workshops were included.

3. Feb, 4th: Attending a performance of a theatre play in the French Cultural center in Jerusalem by 5 children accompanied by Saliha, our French teacher.

4. Feb, 4th: A puppet show in Dar Ennadwa, Bethlehem.

5. Feb, 8th:A meeting with the director of the governor's office in Bethlehem, help recruiting 2 volunteers for Alrowwad in the Emergency work program financed by the Palestinian Authority.

6. Feb, 15th: A meeting with the parents of the children selected for the tour in USA, next June-July.

7. Feb, 16th: Training workshops in Theatre decoration and puppets costumes twice a week for 4 months by Anwar and Ruth (Austrian volunteer).

8. Feb, 18th: A visit by Folklore heritage conservation center in Bethlehem to discuss possibilities of cooperation between the two centers.

9. Feb, 20th: Starting a training in Psychodrama, financed by the DCI, with the participation of 4 institutions in Bethlehem, Alrowwad included.

10. Feb, 23rd: A musical show for the children of the camp, in collaboration with Alkamandjati association, followed by a concert in Dar Ennadwa, Bethlehem. Our 8 children who started learning to play violin participated in these shows.

11. Feb, 26: A meeting with the DCO, Bethlehem, to discuss the possibility of obtaining permits to Jerusalem for the meeting in the American consulate for the visas. (Tour in USA)

12. Feb, 27th: Visit by the Executive Director of the High Institute of Music, Mr. Tony Jakaman. He was introduced to the activities of the center. An agreement was made on the organization of musical workshops and common projects among both institutions.

13. Feb, 28th: Meeting in the American consulate for visas applications interviews.

14. Feb, 28th: A farewell celebration on the honor of Saliha, who stayed for 6 months in Aida, teaching French to Alrowwad children, and girls school as well as other institutions.

March-05
1. Follow up of French and English classes for children and youth in Aida camp as well as in Aida girls basic school for 6 months (starting September 2004 and ended March 2005)

2. March 5-8th: Finalization of the purchase of the house in Aida for the new center, and opening an account for electricity and water.

3. March 4th: Starting music training in the Higher Institute of Music in Bethlehem, once a week for 4 months.

4. March 6th: Meeting with UNDP engineers in Bethlehem. Delivery of plans of construction for the new center which we hope to partly (1 or 2 floors) be financed by the UNDP through the KFW German project.

5. March 9th: Reception of 14 German visitors from the Lutheran Church, visit of the camp as well as Alrowwad center, and introducing them to centers' activities and the camp's life despite the Israeli army violations and the separation wall.

6. March 10th: Visit of Aida basic school, and delivery of letters from American children in Burlington, in the mail exchange program with Burlington, upon the initiative of Joe Metz and follow up of Alrowwad.

7. March 12th: Participation in the inauguration of the new building for the High Institute of Music in Bethlehem.

8. March 12th: A farewell celebration to one of our French volunteers.

9. March 13th: Visit to the camp's boys school for the letters exchange program. An agreement was made with the headmaster for English teaching classes in the center for the children of the school who needed that.

10. A meeting with Alro'ya institution, for future collaboration possibilities.

11. March 15th: A celebration party honoring Mr. Peter Hansen, the General UNRWA commissioner in Al Fenique Hall in Deheisha Camp. Dr. A. Abusrour presented a medal of honor in an Olive wood box in the name of Alrowwad and Aida camp for the courageous positions of Mr. Hansen during his mandate, searching justice for the Palestinian refugees.

Continuous programs
Training and workshops according to a set schedule in the center:
a. Theatre rehearsals for the troupe twice per week
b. Theatre training for the younger generation of children, twice per week.
c. Dance for the two groups of children, twice per week for each group.
d. Drawing and painting workshops for 10-15 years old, once/week
e. Drawing and painting workshops for 6-10 years old children, once/week.
f. Music practice on violin, 8 children, in collaboration with Alkamandjati professors, Mechele and Claudia, once per week.
g. Computer training for children and youth, daily.
h. Videos and documentary films once/week
i. Video filming workshops with funding participation from Hoping Foundation for the year 2005.

Evaluation of Activities

by: Dr. Abdelfattah Abusrour

Partners and cofunders 2004-2005 :

Friends of Alrowwad-France: Purchase and building of new facility. Marketing of embroidery from the camp, different activities and projects and volunteers.

Nations Development Program (UNDP)
2.1. Employing Ibrahim Abusrour, in the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) program for one year as a project coordinator and follow up.
2.2. Financing the building of one or 2 floors in the new center 2005

Hoping Foundation: Video filming project for the children of Alrowwad

Badil Center: Educational workshops and different activities.

Friends of Alrowwad-USA: Tour of performances, summer 2005 in USA. New building and different activities.

Popular committee in Aida: Volunteers work, programs of Job creation for the people in the camp.

UNRWA: Partial contribution to finance different workshops. Animation project financed by the Holy See.

Alkamandjati: Teaching violin, starting September 2004.

A. Dreams Association: Theatre workshops for children

Friends of Alrowwad-Belgium: Starting communications

The High Institute of Music-Bethlehem: Starting collaboration

DCI movement: Starting collaboration.

Dar Ennadwa: Invitation for theatre and concerts, free of charge or reduced prices.

Alrowwad would like to thank all the volunteers who passed in the center during 2004 and 2005 (till now) including: Jean Charles, Monya, Sebastien, Mohamad Awwad, Charlie Zeidan, Nihad ALhanash, Nadege, Frederic, Marie-Anne, Saliha, Maud, Margo, Wallace family, Rawan Barakat, volunteers from the Union of Churches…and all those who I might have forgotton.

Achievements and numbers of beneficiaries
Activities inside Alrowwad Center:

A. Languages:
1. French Language: 47 participants from both sexes benefited from these classes of basic formation in French.
2. English Language: 27 participants from both sexes.

B. Arts and Drama:
1. Drama in French: 10 children from both sexes.
2. Dance workshops: 15 participants from both sexes.
3. Theatre decoration workshops: 15 children

Gifts distribution:
1. Gifts distribution: 112 children from both sexes (from Alrowwad and 4 different kindergartens).
2. Eid-Al Adha Feast gifts: 42 children from both sexes.

Workshops in collaboration with other institutions:
a. Palestinian Red Crescent: Workshop on crisis management and dealing with families for mother, in collaboration with Red Crescent: 10 women.
b. YMCA : Children rights workshops: 15 children.
c. Higher Institute for Music: Music training for 11 children

Letters exchange program:
a. with Italian school (Angelo Celli): 32 children
b. with American schools in Burlington: 100 children

Job creation
1. Palestinian authority employment emergency program: 2 employees
2. UNDP – UNV : 1 employee

Beneficiaries of continuous programs:
Daily and weekly Programs: 144 participants

Guests and Visitors:
International and national visitors to the center: 69 visitors

Activities outside the center:
a. DCI activity with the participation of 15 institutions in Bethlehem district: 20 children
b. Dar Ennadwa : Theatre and music shows: 26 participants
c. Higher Institute of Music activity: 25 children
d. French cultural center in Jerusalem: film and theatre play: 5 children
e. Visit to Alquds (Jerusalem): 12 Children
f. A. Dreams theatre workshop in Nazareth: participation of 3 children
g. Alkamndjati musical workshop and concert: 50 children
UNDP: United Nations Development Program
UNV: United Nations Volunteers program
UNRWA: United Nations Releif and Welfare Agency
DCI: Defence Children International Mouvement

* Dr. Abdelfattah Abusrour, Director of Alrowwad Center has been elected as destinguished volunteer in a celebration held in Ramallah upon the initiative of the association Sharek in partnership with the UNDP and ministries of Youth and Sport, and Woment affairs

2004-08-12T20:57:00.000+03:00

Al-Kamandjati's Journey in Palestine
published by: http://www.thisweekinpalestine.com/details.php?id=1040&ed=93

For the third time in a row, a group of 30 persons (musicians, Al-Kamandj coordinators, and movie makers) was in Palestine in order to organize workshops and to perform concerts from the 1st to the 30th of July 2004.On the 15th of July, at around 4 pm, the group arrived to the Abu Dis neighbourhood of Jerusalem for a concert in front of the Wall.

It was hard to describe what we felt in front of this stone monster. Misunderstanding, anger, sadness? The Wall, we are often talking about it, we follow its growing route on a Palestinian map, in the newspapers, on TV, but to see it, touch it, to realize that the human madness is real, one of Al-Kamandjati's coordinators commented. The Wall isn't just a word, it is first and foremost a disastrous situation for many Palestinians. In Abu Dis, the Wall divides the whole city into two parts. It places, for example, Al-Quds University behind the Wall: students who are living on the "wrong" side have to ride or walk for two hours in order to reach their school, instead of the usual 10 minutes.The concert was very moving for many of the artists. Especially for the two German musicians in the group who had experienced the fall of the Berlin Wall 15 years ago.

The workshops that Al-Kamandj has already organized in the Bethlehem area allowed it to create links with two cultural centres (Al-Rowwad and Ibdaa) and with the International Centre of Bethlehem-Dar Annadwa, with the aim of organizing the first music lessons next September.Al-Kamandj hopes that its activities will lead to the substitution of daily violence with dialogue. It would like to see its project joining the efforts of international NGOs and representatives of the Palestinian society who work in the cultural field.

Al-Kamandj wishes to express its thanks to all its partners who made this project possible: the A.M. Qattan Foundation, the Greek Cultural Centre, the Palestine Avenir Foundation, the PRCS, the PYU, Riwaq, the Khalil Sakakini Cultural Centre, the National Conservatory of Music of Ramallah, the Popular Dance Centre, and all the other cultural centres of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.