On a cold December day at the windswept Belgian port of Antwerp,
an unusual cargo container arrived to be loaded onto a freighter
bound for the Israeli port of Ashdod. Carefully stowed inside the
container were the results of a year's hard work by the Belgian
charity, Music Fund: more than 300 donated musical instruments, all
in pristine condition, including 18 clarinets, 43 guitars, 69
violins, a trombone, a double bass, and three grand pianos, all to
be distributed to needy music schools in the Palestinian territories
and Israel.
Music Fund, headed by president Lukas Pairon, was formed in 2005
to provide practical support to young musicians and music schools in
conflict zones and developing countries. It was born of a
collaboration between Ictus, a Belgian contemporary-music ensemble,
and the nongovernmental organization Oxfam Solidarity.
Ictus musicians had already traveled regularly to Israel and the
Palestinian territories since 2002, giving workshops and master
classes at schools throughout the region. The plan to deliver
further practical aid in the form of musical instruments began as a
onetime project initiated by Ictus in 2005, when 300 instruments
were collected, repaired, and trucked to the Palestinian
territories.
"It proved so successful, though," says Mr. Pairon, "that we
decided to continue, to turn it into a permanent, full-time
operation. Also, it was so much fun to organize that we didn't feel
like stopping. It's a small region, and you quickly get around,
hearing about worthy organizations and enlarging partnerships."
It wasn't long before Music Fund expanded beyond the Middle East:
A similar shipment of musical instruments soon went out to music
schools in Mozambique, and plans are afoot to begin activities in
Kinshasa, Congo (former Zaire), this year.
For the many budding musicians in the Palestinian territories,
life is far from easy. Not only are music stores in short supply,
but most students can't afford to buy instruments, explains Marie
Albert, administrator of the Al Kamandjati music school in Ramallah,
a recipient of instruments from Music Fund. "That's why Music Fund
helps us so much," she says, "With these donations, we're able to
give children instruments to take home and practice on, instead of
just having one lesson a week at the center."
Furthermore, says Pairon, advanced students often become too
skilled for poor-quality instruments, preventing them from reaching
their full potential. Music Fund can provide better instruments to
promising pupils. "Also, there is little or no music and arts
education in the public school system in Palestine," Ms. Albert
says, "Everyone needs cultural activities, but perhaps even a little
bit more so here, where living conditions are so difficult. Through
music, children gain a hobby and a purpose and can meet other
children from different backgrounds, exchange ideas, and learn about
each other as well as about music. Music here gives them a chance to
have a break from their difficult daily lives."
One of the hundreds of such children helped by Music Fund is 14-
year-old Mahmoud Karzom from Ramallah. "I've been learning violin
for three years at Al Kamandjati," he says, "and they gave me a
violin to take home to practice on, which really helps because it
means I can play every day. If I didn't have that, my playing would
improve much more slowly."
Indeed, Mahmoud's talent for music soon resulted in his being
selected to join the school's performing tour to Germany. "It was
very exciting," he says, "to be able to leave Ramallah for the first
time. I love to play with other people, to perform, and just to play
all alone, by myself. My parents are proud of me, too."
Mahmoud, whose favorite composer is Bach, is keen to continue his
musical education with the school. "Music makes me relaxed," he
beams, "I feel completely different, and really happy, when I'm
playing violin. …