My name is Mariam. I am 14 years old, and I am a student at the Bara’em Ghirass program in Palestine.
When I was very young, I used to play the drums. I loved the drums, but I had to stop because I was three years old and the instrument was too big for me. After the drums, I started playing the piano, and I got really good at it, but I honestly felt like it wasn’t for me.
Through the Bara’em Ghirass program, I learned a new instrument: the tablah. I love this instrument because it’s fun to play and it feels right for me.
At the beginning I was a bit nervous as I didn’t know anyone there, but a few days later, I was very comfortable with my new friends.
Over time, I’ve started feeling like the tablah is not an object anymore, it’s a friend of mine. A friend that I enjoy talking with, like, the tablah now speaks for me – it speaks my mind, it speaks my opinion – and because I love the songs that we play, and I love the teachers and I love everything about the place, I feel like I play the instrument with love.
Because I see my teachers every week, and because I see my friends every week, I’ve started feeling like this is a second home for me. My friends now are like brothers and sisters to me.
Outside of the academy, I’m able to now join different music groups that ask me to play with them, and I’m able to join the competitions in school, and I am able to participate in music competitions and stuff because I play this instrument. I feel proud every single time I talk to a musician, especially because there aren’t many girls that play percussion.
Thank you for reading my story.
Bara’em Ghirass is a safe space for Palestinian children to form connections and build a community together with traditional Arabic music at its core. It also offers moments of respite from the difficulties of living under occupation in the West Bank.
You can help more children in Palestine like Mariam find their part to play by supporting our Winter campaign. Remember, everything you give will be doubled at no extra cost to you, meaning that you can have twice the impact!
2 hours of lessons for 45-50 Palestinian children costs around €30 to run, which means you can:
