News Archive - 2009 Dabke Classes and Costumes

Prelude sponsors the dabke classes at Madaa Silwan Creative Center, for more information: www.madaasilwan.org/dabke.html.





Benefit Concert

In end April, violinist Lisanne Soeterbroek and violist Stephanie Steiner arranged a benefit concert of their students. The proceeds (250 EUR) were donated to Prelude, and were used to purchase music stands, rosin and strings for violin students in Al-Azzeh refugee camp next to Bethlehem.

A Trip to Jericho

On April 10, 2009, a bus loaded with excited children from refugee camps around Bethelehem headed to Jericho for a long day of swimming, playing, singing and a lot of fun. For pictures please click here.




Day Out to the Playground

On March 7, 2009, Prelude sponsored a day out to a playground in Bethlehem for one-hundred children from Al-Azzeh, Dheisheh and Aida refugee camps.

The Palestinian refugee camps in the area of Bethlehem suffer from extreme crowdedness and poverty. During the last several months, Prelude has sponsored the shipment of violins, purchasing of art materials for art classes, and day trips, all for the benefit of the camps' children. For pictures please click here.

Trip to the Safari and Sea

On February 9, 2009, Prelude sponsored a trip for sixty children from Silwan in East Jerusalem to the safari in Ramat-Gan and to the sea Jaffa.

Most of the children were girls from the UNRWA school, where a classroom had collapsed just a week before, and therefore was closed. For pictures please click here.

Renovation of Silwan Library

Prelude sponsors the renovation of the library in Silwan, and the creation of a children's corner with books and games. The library has already received donations of dozens of books in Arabic and English, and now it is ready to be open for the children of Silwan. The renovation will focus on furniture and the creation of a fun environment to come together, play and read books. Click here to read more about the Madaa Silwan Community Center.

Handale Community Center in El-Azzeh Refugee Camp

Prelude received a donation of violins from a Dutch violin builder. 8 were already sent to the Handale Center in Azzeh Refugee Camp next to Bethlehem, the smallest refugee camp in Palestine. The rest will be repaired by Prelude money and sent in 2009. In addition, Prelude has sponsored the purchase of art materials for weekly art classes.

We asked three children four questions:

1. For how long have you been playing the violin?
2. What do you like about playing the violin?
3. Why did you choose the violin?
4. What does playing the violin mean to you?

Raghda, 12 years old:

1. I have been playing the violin for one year.
2. It's my hobby, I spend all my free time on playing.
3. The violin is a nice instrument but I prefer playing the piano. But I never had the chance to play the piano so I decided to play the violin.
4. It helps me forgetting about the problems in the camp. When I'm bored I always play.

Iman, 11 years old:

1. 1.5 year
2. I get relaxed when I play.
3. I like the sound of the violin.
4. My parents love to hear me play. I would really like to become a famous violin player.

Amal, 12 years old:

1. 1.5 year
2. I like music, playing and listening to music makes me feel happy.
3. Because I like the instrument and the sound of it.
4. Whenever I play I only concentrate on that and I forget about everything else.

Silwan Club

Prelude funds the rent of a new building as part of the growing community center in Silwan. New theatre lessons, and dabke classes are scheduled to begin in the new space in February. The theatre group will prepare a play about non-violence. Click here to read more about the Madaa Silwan Community Center.