Palestinian refugee children from four countries sing in unison
By Rhiannon Williams and Gioia Forster
AMMAN — Eight hundred Palestinian refugee children living in four different countries in the Middle East on Tuesday sang traditional folklore songs in unison via satellite technology.
The children belong to 23 choirs based in Amman, Gaza, the West Bank, Beirut and Damascus, and are between the ages of four and 13, according to the organisers.
The choirs performed traditional Palestinian songs in front of a local audience in these five locations, and thanks to a live video feed, to spectators across the region.
"These children, singing together in unity, are the best ambassadors of Palestine," said Elena Rostropovich, founder of the group that sponsored the event.
Al Sununu Palestinian Children's Choirs Satellite Concert was orchestrated by the Association Elena Rostropovich, a Paris-based charitable organisation dedicated to using music to improve the lives of young Palestinian refugees and in partnership with UNRWA and the National Music Conservatory (NMC) in Amman.
The programme has been running for three years, seeking to give Palestinian refugee children access to basic music education and forge a common cultural heritage with other refugee children across the Middle East.
At the opening of the ceremony, live from Gaza, Rostropovich spoke of her belief in the power of music.
"Music is an integral part of the heritage and face of a nation. I strongly believe music should be part of education… it develops emotional self expression."
The goal of Al Sununu is to enrich the cultural life of the participating children, whilst teaching them musical skills, theory and the history of Arabic songs. Alongside learning these new skills, Rostropovich and her regional coordinators believe in the power of music as a form of therapy.
Nadeen Qubein from the NMC, who has been acting master of the Amman-based choir since September last year, holds bi-weekly music lesson at three schools in the capital.
Qubein explained to The Jordan Times the impact that this musical education programme has had on the children.
"Although we have had challenges with some of the children, as they come from diverse backgrounds, you can see the positive effect that Al Sununu has had on their attitudes".
"They had no previous experience in music and now they have technical skills — today we had 51 children perform who can read music and love singing," Qubein added.
"By mastering basic music education and having the opportunity to learn the music of their parents and grandparents, these children can begin to form a cultural heritage, which is so important to building self esteem and healing the emotional devastation of being a refugee", Rostropovich wrote in Al Sununu mission statement.
"Music is a universal language that needs no translation," she said via live video feed from Palestine. "This is a historic moment and this is a day of celebration and unity… these children are sending a powerful message by singing together."
In Amman, the children's choir sang "Bilad Al Urb Awtani" (Arab countries are my homeland), before singing "Wein ala Ramallah" (Why head to Ramallah?), in unison with the four other choirs as the grand finale of the event.
Twelve-year-old Tahrir said she was excited to be part of the project.
"I am happy to be singing today…I feel like all the other children are my brothers and sisters, that we have been reunited".
"I have loved rehearsing with all the other students in my choir," 11-year-old Amer told The Jordan Times.
"I have made so many friends and will keep on singing."
Originally published in 
Found on http://jordantimes.com/palestinian-refugee-children-from-four-countries-sing-in-unison