Palestine – Special needs kids mix with peers at Edward Said Conservatory program

Location: Gaza beach, Palestine

Language: Arabic

Duration: 00:05:33

Voice: Natural

Source: A24 Gaza

Restriction: A24 subscribers

Date: 31/07/2022

Storyline:

Children in Gaza learn music and dance in a pioneering program that integrates deaf, autistic, and special needs students, all performing together at a seaside summer camp.

Sixty-five participants selected by the Edward Said National Conservatory of Music are singing choral music, mastering the Palestinian Dabkeh dance, and getting familiar with various musical instruments.

This unique experience includes twenty children with Downs Syndrome and fifteen hearing impaired campers.

Established in 1993, the Palestinian National Conservatory in Jerusalem seeks to raise a new musical generation despite challenges, including a 2008 Israeli airstrike that damaged the school’s Gaza branch.

Music instructor Ismail Daoud told A24 that the special needs children who thrived in the integrated environment and the chance to participate with the whole camp commuity.

Shot list:

• Soundbite (Ismail Daoud – Teacher of Music and Oud at the Edward Said Conservatory):

 “We held a summer camp this year with the aim of integrating people with disabilities with the institute’s normal students. We offer about six sports and art activities including choir, dabke, painting, chess, and storytelling. “

• Soundbite (Ismail Daoud – Teacher of Music and Oud at the Edward Said Conservatory):

“They reacted well to activities, especially movement ones such as dabke. Children with Down syndrome, autism, and deaf children have the right to pursue their hobbies, not only with their peers but by integrating them into the whole community in order to be active.”

• Soundbite (Sahar Abu Shama – one of the participants in the camp):

“Here in the art camp, we learn many things with different segments of society; the deaf, the normal, people with Down syndrome and autism and there is no difference between us. The camp helps participants clear their minds of negative thoughts and trains them to play musical instruments and perform dabke, drumming, and choir.”

• Soundbite (Emma Al-Saidi – one of the children with Down syndrome participating in the camp):

“I went to the camp and played with the ball and flour; we had fun and were very happy.”

• Soundbite (Iman – one of the children with Down syndrome participating in the camp):

“I love the camp so much. We do many activities and play with each other.”