Music Workshops for Deaf Children
21 February, 2021
From August until December 2021, deaf music workshop leader Halimeh has given 234 music lessons to 65 deaf children, age 4-16. Her lessons help the children to relax from the ongoing stress they face during life under occupation. This year has been especially difficult with the many challenges around Covid-19, and Halimeh’s consistent interaction with the children helped to lower their anxiety level.
Halimeh Sarabteh has been trained by Musicians Without Borders since 2011. After joining a Music Leadership Training in her birthplace Bethlehem, Halimeh volunteered for a few years with Musicians Without Borders, giving music workshops to deaf children, children with special needs and at public schools all over Palestine. She participated in the Music as Therapy Blended Learning Course delivered by Musicians Without Borders and Music as Therapy International and was invited to join one of the yearly ToT (Training of Trainers) by Musicians Without Borders in Ede, The Netherlands.
Prelude Foundation has covered Halimeh’s expenses to give music workshops to deaf children at the Red Crescent School for Communication from August until December 2020. Due to Covid-19 restrictions, part of her lessons were given online, while others could take place in the school building, keeping safety measures into account.
During the music lessons the children can express their feelings in a safe and secure space, they get the opportunity to take a leadership role and a certain feeling of control, something that is often missing in a life within such a chaotic circumstances. Halimeh is the perfect role model for these students, showing them that a deaf woman can reach many things in life.
