Project Hope Needs Musicians for Palestine
– A Call for Volunteers
While visiting the West Bank/OPT (Occupied Palestinian Territories),
the MwB team encountered Project Hope (Humanitarian Opportunities
for Peace and Education), a Canadian-Palestinian organization
working in Nablus. Project Hope works with a number of Palestinian
organizations and schools. Since 2003 Project Hope has offered
educational and recreational activities to thousands of young
Palestinians, including English and French language lessons,
discussion groups about human rights, and creative arts activities.
Young Palestinians benefit from trainings, psychological support
and intercultural dialogue. These programs give youth a sense
of safety, structure and the opportunity to enjoy normal, everyday
things.
The situation in Nablus
Nablus has been devastated by the Israeli occupation and by
internal conflict. Once a busy commercial center, its economy
is now paralyzed by violence, political instability and a recent
reduction in foreign aid. The dilapidated economic infrastructure
of Nablus cannot support its population. The emigration of professionals,
artists, intellectuals and capital has left behind a poorly
educated, impoverished and militarized community. Checkpoints,
road blocks and other physical obstacles have destroyed freedom
of movement and made Nablus into a large open air prison. Normal
economic activities are impossible. The community faces chronic
stress and the birth rate in Nablus is among the world’s
highest. Children and youth are in the majority and, as always
in such situations, they constitute the most vulnerable groups
in the society. They grow up in a world that exposes them constantly
to violence, poverty, political instability and domestic problems.
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Musicians
Project Hope accepts volunteers from all over the world, and
serves as a hub for volunteers who want to provide social and
emotional support services for the Palestinian people. Via Project
Hope musicians have initiated a broad range of activities, including
teaching individuals to play specific instruments, working with
large groups who have no musical experience whatsoever, and
using available materials to make simple music instruments.
Volunteers have the opportunity to implement their own programs
based on their own musical talent and creativity.
To qualify as a volunteer for Project Hope you must be talented,
have experience teaching groups of children, and be able to
communicate the magic of music. You also need to have a strong
sense of humor, flexibility and a taste for working under great
pressure. Nablus and its refugee camps can be very difficult
workplaces. It takes a certain type of person to thrive under
such circumstances and to make the best of time here. The children
and youth with whom Project Hope works have complex needs which,
combined with the political situation, can make the work very
challenging. Of course, the results are even more gratifying!
Volunteers for the music program are welcome for any time period
from one week to three months (or longer if they are able to
obtain an extension to their 3 month visa). There is no payment
for the work, and volunteers must be able to cover their own
costs, including rental for an apartment (300NIS per month –
about €52).
Interested?
Jenny, the contact person for volunteers, will be in the Netherlands
in January and would like to meet any potential volunteers for
a chat or an interview. Contact her (without any obligation)
if you are interested in or have questions about working as
a volunteer in Palestine.
Email: recruiter@projecthope.ps
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