Al Kamandjâti, The violonist

Al Kamandjati is a non-profit organization founded October 2002. Its beginning revolves around a young Palestinian, Ramzi Aburedwan, who spent his entire childhood in the Al-Amari refugee camp in Ramallah. He then went to Angers , France to study at the Music Conservatory. His objective was to establish music schools for Palestinian children, favouring the most destitute children, those living in the refugee camps.
Ramzi's dream has come true. Al Kamandjati now operates in various refugee camps in the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, and in Southern Lebanon. It develops numerous partnerships with already-established cultural institutions. Its aims cannot be carried out without these partnerships. It is apparent that we cannot succeed unless we pool our energies together.

Why ?

Culture, arts and leisure activities are among the least known and recognized victims of the occupation and of the violence suffered by the Palestinians.
To reduce to rubble a people, it is tried not only to kill it physically but also to wipe out all the symbols that characterize it in the eyes of the whole world.
Palestinian resistance can and has to be multiple. The Intifada can be cultural. We should not forget that the core of Al Kamandjâti action is to build up an environment where games and education are children’s principal concerns.
Children are the first victims of the occupation.
Ramzi’s path must not remain isolated.

Achievements

All over the world, many militants are pacing up and down streets to make their fellow citizens aware of the drama experienced by the Palestinians.
They are carrying on a real battle to make politicians face up to their responsibilities.
This task is extremely important, not to say vital. We must not forget the Palestinian struggle; we must not leave alone the Palestinian people. To complete political actions, we must multiply practical achievements in Palestine.
Al Kamandjâti proposes to carry out a project directly inside the Palestinian occupied territories.
We cannot everlastingly wait for political decisions; we cannot eternally expect the effective creation of a Palestinian state. We must work straight away with Palestinians to build a cultural life that used to be so fertile.

Now or never! Let us take action!
Albeit our activities would take place once or twice a week, we must help children dream of something else - different to a tank or a soldier.
To create links with the utmost number of children, of cultural centres… twice a year, Al Kamandjâti organizes musical workshops and concerts for the children living in the refugee camps of Ramallah, Hebron, Bethlehem, Jenin, Nablus, Jericho, Tulkarem, Qalqiliah, Jerusalem, Gaza, and in southern Lebanon.
To carry out its projects, Al Kamandjâti organizes solidarity concerts, fund raising (cash donations and subsidies) and collects musical instruments.