A Song From My Wounded Home to the World

Providing refugees children with musical instruments.

Coaching and conducting musical lessons.

Arranging musical workshops at various refugees camps.

I would like to conduct some musical workshops for refugees children. These children have been exposed to extremely harsh and inhumane scenes. We are responsible to give them the chance to forget the war for a while and put a smile on their faces. Every year we will focus on a different city that has a refugee camp. We will communicate with them and arrange artists and musicians to go and perform at this camp and work with the refugees children there. It will inspire the children and bring them joy after all the difficult time they have been going through. We will also provide them with musical instruments and arrange some musical lessons. They will be able to perform within few months a concert. Can you imagine refugees children and youth from different backgrounds performing a piece together! During this difficult time we are facing, I believe music is one of the most powerful languages we can use to make the world believe more in us as humans not aliens as enrichment not a burden.  

Music breaks the boundaries between people and nations. For example when you are Christian and when you perform a jewish theme for muslim community, it makes the world smaller and brighter. You bring people together from so many different backgrounds even if they are not musicians, they will be able to feel your pain through the music you play. 

Music will also inspire leaders and change makers to act, to stop violence, to donate at least to feel. Music will be an effective tool for advocacy and change not for a luxury. For refugees children and youth, music will teach them discipline, respect, friendship, ambition, nobility. generosity, thinking and love. 

 We all know that refugees crisis is sadly a big issue we have right now. War and conflicts are resulting in more refugees every year. I hope we have the power to stop that, but I am a musician and I feel that politics is a difficult topic for me to solve or change.However, music does have the power to have a great impact. It may not be able to feed a child or rebuild a home, but it is very much needed specially now. 

I am a Syrian violinist who found refuge in the US through music. While mortars were falling like a rain in Aleppo, I kept going to the music institute to teach my students violin. Music was the only window of hope for us. Music has also saved my life as I received a scholarship in violin in the US. Since I arrived, I have been performing to advocate for my friends who are still suffering in Syria and to spread peace and hope over war. Music is the solution I see. I very much hope if you could support me.

Refugees children and youth are going to benefit from this project.

Getting them musical instruments and coaching - Refugees children performing together in a concert form

Engaging professional musicians who are enthusiastic about the subject - Accomplished musicians conducting musical workshops and concerts in the camp

Promoting the idea as much as possible and engaging many people and organizations - Music over guns and war

A lot of organizations whom I respect and support are working  to provide food, shelter...etc. This is all very important. However, we need food for the soul, a place where we can dream again as human beings. People may think music is a luxury and we cannot afford it, but I say no we need music more than ever. Playing a musical instrument is never easy as it takes time and patience. Therefore, music will not only give refugees a sense of joy, but it will also help them to overcome their difficulties and inspire them to achieve their dreams.

I believe so much in technology as without it, I wouldn't have been able to communicate with the other world in the US and receive a scholarship here and survive the world in Syria.

My project will need the creativity of technology now to reach to a lot of people who will support us in providing some facilities, volunteers and music instruments. 

We will need to promote the organization as much as possible on social media and other channels to reach supporters and people who are passionate about helping refugees through music.

I just graduated and received my master in violin performance at DePaul University. I know I will struggle a lot to make my idea fruitful in terms of funding as I currently don't have the means to support my project. However, I always believed that when you have a will nothing impossible!

I have actually been nominated to L'Oreal Paris Women of Worth Award and I am now one of the 40 semi finalists. If I made it to the final, I will receive a grant which will allow me to establish this non profit organization. Afterwards, I believe some people and organizations would be willing to join and support hopefully.

I think funding would be the most challenging limitation to buy the musical instruments and afford the flight tickets and the fees for musicians to travel to the camps. I don't see any problem connecting with refugees camps as I have been working closely on so many events with UNHCR, IRC, World Council of Arameans, Jusoor and many others. I know they will help me to be in touch with the camps. I also believe that I will be able to reach out to accomplished musicians who are very eager to perform in the camps.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/posttv/world/syrian-refugee-im-committed-to-the-power-of-music/2015/07/01/5e2534d4-201c-11e5-a135-935065bc30d0_video.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kbAevrx6X_g

I was honored to perform and speak at Solve MIT in 2017. I was touched to meet so many accomplished and humbled human beings who inspired me to think of a solution for a challenging problem. I recently spoke at Nexus Summit and talked about my dream of starting a non profit organization and I was encouraged to apply. I trust that Solve is a wonderful organization and through the expertise of the organizers there, I will be able to get the help which will enable me to make my idea feasible and fruitful.

No one yet, but I hope I will receive a support from Points of Light, UNHCR, International Rescue Committee, How to Do Good, World Relief and some other organizations

I haven't heard of any group who is working on a similar idea.