Playing against the siege .. Musical camps for the children of Gaza

Ola Moussa - Gaza

Jean-Karim, 14, can have fun with music and guitar playing on her vacation this year, away from the worries of her city this summer and the radio sounds that tell the news of the Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip and the names of martyrs and wounded.

She shares a lot of Palestinian children in the Gaza Strip who have joined the summer music camps this year. "We are in a city where the world thinks it knows nothing but destruction and ruin. I play guitar at the summer camp and I also love the Oriental machines," she says.

She hopes that the culture of music will be disseminated in UNRWA public schools because she feels that she is reflected in her behavior and the behavior of her colleagues in the affirmative, and hopes that the rest of Gaza's children will have the chance to play. Her colleague, Yara Mosleh, 13, who shares the music of Jean Karim, agrees.

"I never expected to enter the music field and play the guitar. I would like to play and not look behind me. I want to hear all the children of Gaza, and I hope that all the children in Gaza can enter the music field instead of hearing the news of destruction and death."

The summer music camps in Gaza have been unusually active this year; at the Edward Said National Conservatory of Music in Gaza, this children's music camp was set up free of charge to create a musical generation that loves music and gives them the opportunity to discover their artistic and musical talents. And attracted a number of children from the Gaza Strip.

According to the director of the Edward Said National Conservatory of Music in Gaza, Ismail Daoud, "The institute has been set up in the summer camps for children since 2017, supported by the Norwegian Representative for three years. The camps attract children between 6 and 14 years, They are complementary arts with music, such as playing oud, guitar, flute, piano and rhythm instruments. "

David explains that the camp consists of four programs: the first is a summer musical summer camp alongside Dabka art, painting, cinema and theater. And the second "Anamal", to play and learn musical instruments and play in a team. The third is "Nettiv", which is dedicated to children who do not know their musical tendencies and is based on the discovery of talent in playing. The fourth is the evening camp for those over 14 years old.

A total of 110 children and 50 others over the age of 14 participate in the summer music camp. "We want to spread the culture of music in every Palestinian home," says David.

"I noticed that children have a lot of energy to absorb music, but unfortunately there are no music classes in schools in Gaza, the child is discovered between 6 and 10 years of age, which is the best age for that. If he is cared for, Talent with him and professionalism with his age. "

The children's inclination to music is also widely noted as a means of emptying, but they are trying to teach them that music is an art that needs to be studied like school instruction, not just entertainment.

The Gaza Center for Arts and Culture was launched after Eid al-Fitr, its first music camp. The music-based musician, Ahmed Hamed, noted the growing demand for musical instruments from the Gaza Strip and the northern Gaza Strip.

"The behavior of many children in the center, which includes 45 children, has changed. Some children at the beginning of the camp were physically disorganized and found a lot of space to learn to play," he said.

"When I look at children, I find them challenging," he said. "It's a great achievement in less than a month to master difficult performances."

One of the children participating in the camp in the Gaza center, Ahmed Jarada (10 years), managed to master a musical composition after one week on the oud. "The music is nice, I want to continue playing the oud, I think music is bad, but I was happy and playing. "