 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Refugee Stories Al-Kamandjati: Bringing Music and Hope to Refugee Children Ramzi Abu Radwan became the poster child and a symbol of the first Intifada that erupted in the occupied Palestinian territory in the late 1980s when he was caught on film, at the tender age of eight, throwing stones at Israeli army jeeps and soldiers who repeatedly entered Amari refugee camp abutting the city of Ramallah, in search and arrest campaigns. Today, 27 years later, Ramzi is considered to be among the top Arab violin players, in addition to playing the viola, Oud and Bouzoq. The young boy from Amari camp who attended UNRWA's boys’ school in the same camp, and who spent time in Israeli detention centers because of his 'hobby' of throwing stones at Israeli army jeeps entering his camp, showed keen interest in music at an early stage. Even though music education, music appreciation and musical instruments were virtually non-existent and available for the privileged few he persisted. At the age of 16 Ramzi was adopted by the Edward Said (formerly Bir Ziet University) Conservatory of Music to study music. Later on, and in a chance encounter, he met Mohammad Fadl, a Palestinian musician, who was busy trying to introduce music appreciation to refugee children in the West Bank refugee camps. Fadl spotted Ramzi's natural talent and with help from Edward Said Conservatory of Music, the young Ramzi went to study music professionally at a music conservatory in the French city of Anger.
In 2002, while teaching music at the Edward Said conservatory, Ramzi, by now a music teacher, was invited to perform before Palestinian children traumatized by the ongoing violence. Happy with his performance and while reviewing the children's drawings he was struck by the images of death, blood and destruction. It was then that he decided to form Al-Kamandjati Music Center (al-kamandjati is Arabic for ‘the violin player’). He moved rather quickly. He set up shop in a beautifully restored old building in the city of Ramallah, succeeded in clearing through Israeli customs some two tons of donated musical instruments from France, registered children from the nearby refugee camps and along with a legion of Palestinian and foreign volunteer musicians started teaching music. Not satisfied he branched out and started going to refugee camps outside the city of Ramallah and to border villages and other areas introducing music, music appreciation and how to play the instruments. He went further with concrete attempts to set up branches for Al-Kamandjati in Syria and Lebanon in cooperation with UNRWA. "We held numerous musical functions in Palestinian refugees camps in Lebanon and the West Bank," Ramzi said and that "there are plans to introduce a project to teach music to Palestinian refugee children in Syria and Jordan in cooperation with UNRWA and through its school system." Today, and as a testament to his vision and the success of his hard work, 350 children train on various musical instruments in Al- Kamandjati center while others shine when singing as part of his singing troupe -- Dalouna. In recognition of his efforts and that of other volunteers, Al- Kamandjati was awarded the prestigious Prince Claus 2006 award for outstanding cultural achievement, an honor that was bestowed in 2005 on the world-renowned Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish. In bestowing the Dutch award, Al- Kamandjati was applauded for enabling Palestinian children "to explore their cultural heritage, to open themselves to the outside world and for giving them an opportunity to discover their creative potential. The award honors Al-Kamandjati for creating spaces of hope for Palestinian children." The poster child of the first Intifada went through a complete circle. Remaining a child at heart, and through his music, he returned home to help in the collective effort to forge a better tomorrow for Palestinian children. By Sami Mshasha Photo by: Arnaud Brunet © Gamma |
|
 |
