My name is Abeer, and I am a Palestinian artist, a Psychodrama and Expressive Arts Therapist, and Choir Conductor at Bara’em Ghirass for Musicians Without Borders . I grew up in the city of peace, Bethlehem, under difficult circumstances due to the occupation. My father was an actor, and my mother has a beautiful singing voice. They played a major role in supporting and encouraging me to pursue the arts.
I have been a part of the Ghirass Cultural Center right from the beginning when it was founded, before traveling to study music at the Cairo Opera House. Upon my return to Bethlehem, I received an invitation to join the Bara’em Ghirass program with Musicians Without Borders . I enthusiastically accepted because I love children and believe in the importance of teaching them music from an early age.
The project has around 50 children within it, who spend 5 hours a week participating in various activities in the center. They receive training on musical instruments, vocal and singing development, as well as group playing exercises. The project also includes psychological relief sessions to help the children build resilience to life as an occupied Palestinian in the West Bank.
There are so many stories from the project from over the years, and it would take me so long to tell them all to you. But one that will always stand out for me was that of a girl with a beautiful voice that needed some training. However, she was so shy that she would cry when I asked her to sing alone.
Together, we worked through her shyness, trained her voice and her self-confidence, and today, she stands confidently on stage and sings with boldness.
The overall positive impact is evident in the children’s behavior in various aspects, such as: calmness, cooperation, respect, strength of character, and assertiveness. And we can see these changes shining through whenever the children perform on stage. I have received so many positive comments from parents over the years about how much the sessions have helped their children.
Bara’em Ghirass is very important to me because I believe in the positive impact that music has on children, both in terms of behavior and in personality. I see how important it is to provide a safe musical environment that helps children learn and relieve stress, especially in light of the difficult circumstances they live under occupation.
Life in Palestine’s occupied West Bank is one of barriers, borders, and unpredictability. Daily life for those living under occupation is dominated by which checkpoints are open, and which are not. There’s often no advance warning of closures either, which makes getting around even harder.
Despite this, our project in the West Bank continues to provide weekly orchestra and choir rehearsals as much as possible. Even with multiple checkpoints in place, very few weeks are missed, which gives the children in the project a sense of stability that is absent from the rest of their daily lives.
For just €30, you could provide a choir rehearsal for 50 Palestinian children living in the occupied West Bank. This is more than just about singing however – these sessions provide the children with moments of respite, and allow them to find community among others. In our work, a small donation really can have a huge impact.
Please give what you can today, and help more children living under occupation in Palestine build resilience through music.
