Hibr

Al Kamandjati: Fostering music in the camps

Ramzi Aburedwan, a violinist from Al Am'ari camp (مخيم الأمعري) in Ramallah, has become a symbol of hope for children in Palestinian refugee camps. From an active participant in the first intifada (1987-1993) as a nine-year-old child, to a musician and founder of a music school, he speaks about the need for children to have creative outlets of expression. Ramzi pursued his musical education in France through a grant he was awarded after having participated in a series of music workshops that he fell upon by a stroke of destiny. His return to Palestine was with a goal: to actively participate in providing children with opportunities that he did not have growing up.

In 2004, the Kamandjati center was set up in Ramallah. Currently, over 500 students receive free music classes in the center. Music classes and instruments are provided to children who cannot reach the physical center in Ramallah through an outreach program to cities, villages and refugee camps in and outside Palestine.

The program has been running for the past two years in two Palestinian camps in Lebanon. Burj el Barajne and Shatila camps have provided this educational outlet, the first of its kind in the camps in Lebanon, through a partnership with the association ‘Beit Atfal Assoumoud’.

Ramzi's contribution to music and society does not stop there. In France, he actively worked to forge a bridge between French and Palestinian initiatives and organizations. A product of one such collaboration is the Palestinian-French music group, Dal'Ounaa.

Al Kamandjati was the first music school to reach out to refugee camps in Palestine and has brought to light many young talents in various musical fields, while also perpetuating many other initiatives in Palestine.