Work in progress: March 22

(Febr 19 2009, Francesco Rigamonti) It's about time to keep you up to date again! As the picture shows, the music school has been completely destroyed. You can download the newsletter of the Qattan Center for the Child, a project of the A.M. Qattan Foundation (the organization behind the Gaza Music School).

Merlijn Twaalfhoven wrote a note about it:

Here's some news about the music school in Gaza. Everybody is working hard to get the school back open and it is to be expected that classes will resume in April. Our Music for Gaza project is no longer focussed on rebuilding the music school or the purchase of new instruments, we work towards a long term cooperation with the GMS when it comes to educating teachers and offering creative musical programs for groups of children in Gaza. More about this later, of course!

May 3 we have an event in Heerlen en May 5 we intend to give a show at the Liberation Festival, together with rappers from Gaza via Skype. We're not sure whether this will work, but we're hoping for it to succeed. We'd also like to be present at the other Liberation Festivals around the country with an info-stand. Do you have time to be a Music for Gaza representative? Just let me know! You can also become a member in Facebook or mail me with other ideas to help the children in Gaza.

Warmest regards,

Merlijn Twaalfhoven

THREE more sponsors to go!

We need THREE more sponsors for the concert hall. After Heerlen Mondiaal, Vredesburo Heerlen, Simply Dutch Recordings, Erwin Musper/Studio the Bamboo Room/Yeayeayeah Records the regional newspaper Dagblad De Limburger, the band Soundmaze en a company named wWv Reschlo (Maastricht) have agreed to become a sponsor. Thank you very much!

The bands who have committed themselves to come and perform are (in random order): Offroad, Black Mantis, Crimson Aces, Soundmaze, Exit 31, Freestroke, the Mondays and X-Libris (pending). DJ Noisebag will be the resident DJ this day.

Volunteers needed!

Besides sponsors for the concert hall, we could also do with some help in the kitchen. Who wants to take care of making snacks? We're also looking for vilunteers who can assist us with little chores and who can co-host this event. Interested? Send us an email with the subject 'volunteer May 3 Heerlen'.

Dialogue/discussion with discussion leader Max Arian

(photo: weblog Anja Meulenbelt) In cooperation with the Center for Diversity we're also organizing a dialogue or discussion with a panel and the audience. The renowned journalist Max Arian (De Groene Amsterdammer) and editor-in-chief De Brug (quarterly magazine for SIVMO, a committee supporting peace organizations in Israel) will host the event and lead the discussion or dialogue. Music for Gaza is focussed on the cultural and humanitarian aspects of the dynamics in Gaza and has no political agenda. But we can't escape reality, and as such recognize the need for people to share their thoughts, or express their concern for the Palestinian people.

That's why we offer an opportunity to exchange thoughts by bringing up a variety in themes. We all know people differ. Someone who is a christian approaches life from different angles than someone who is jewish or muslem, or not religious at all. What if we forget about the differences and try to look at what we all have in common? Everybody wants to be and have a friendly neighbour, everybody wants for their kids to do well in school. We all want to enjoy the company of family and friends, or go to work with pleasure. How can we deal with this the best we can, here in the Netherlands and how can we make a difference for the people in Gaza?

And what about Merlijn's vision, music as a weapon against extremism? How can you deal with this in a most succesful way and how do you yourself experience listening to or making music?

A.M. Qattan Foundation

The A.M. Qattan Foundation is the main force behind the Qattan Center for the Child and the Gaza Music School. In the past week we've been communicating with Omar Al-Qattan, (Board of Trustees) of the A.M. Qattan Foundation and Zaid Khalaf, executive director of the A.M. Foundation. Next time more about this organization and how Music for Gaza can contribute to resurrect music education in Gaza.