The Music Bus Goes Middle East raises awareness of diabetes

Musicians without Borders has joined forces with Holy Land Trust in Bethlehem. Holy Land Trust’s mission is to "Strengthen the Community for the Future," and to further disseminate this vision, they seek partnerships with other organizations.

World Diabetes Day
Through this cooperation, we organized a music workshop for children on the World Diabetes Day, together with the Diabetic Friends' Society Bethlehem and inhabitants of the al-Masara village.

Modern epidemic
November 14 was World Diabetes Day. This year, the theme was children with diabetes. Every day, another 200 children around the world are affected by the disease. In the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT), 10% of the population suffers from diabetes.

Free testing
Two new MwB trainees, Zainab and Yasmeen, are volunteering for the Diabetes Friends' Society Bethlehem. In the morning, the group traveled to al-Masara where the Diabetic Friends' Society provided free testing of blood pressure and blood sugar, followed up by a doctor in case of need.

Al-Masara Village
Al-Masara is a beautiful village inhabited by about 850 Palestinians. Many villagers are farmers, cultivating their lands, growing olives, grapes and making honey. However, the occupation and its Wall have cut farmers from their beloved lands. Many children in al-Masara live under the poverty line and experience stress from the regular incursions by the occupation army at night.

Music and Movement Workshop
While doctors and nurses were taking care of the mothers, children were given a music workshop in the local kindergarten. Physical action is one of the basic tools in preventing stress and diabetes, so the children danced and moved a lot in the workshop.