Bringing
joy to
talented
refugees
Not everything goes smoothly: arrangements are sometimes made in broken English or (even worse) through a translation program—which can lead to misunderstandings. Refugees are sometimes suddenly untraceable because they’ve been relocated, and it happens that an instrument isn’t available after all. These are just minor inconveniences, which, fortunately, pale in comparison to the joy that a successful match brings. Our “Keep Playing” campaign continues steadily, bringing joy to people in difficult circumstances.
A Wish Come True
Saadet, a Turkish woman, is 33 years old and lives with her husband and child in Heerenveen. She had already started taking guitar lessons at the local cultural center, but didn’t yet have her own guitar. With this guitar, she can make her dream come true: practicing seriously and often to really master the instrument.
Alex and Shihan are from China and have lived with their mother in four asylum seeker centers: in Ter Apel, Den Helder, Wageningen, and Gilze. They have been in the Netherlands for three years now and were finally able to move into a home in Maastricht in January. Out of necessity, they’ve already seen quite a bit of our country, and the children now speak Dutch flawlessly. Alex is attached to his European name; he’s 11 years old (but almost 12), and Shihan is 8 (but insists she’s almost 9!). In Gilze, they took piano lessons and made remarkably rapid progress. That’s why this beautiful piano is a perfect fit for them.
Forget your troubles for a moment
Tesnim (9) is from Syria and lives with her parents in Katwoude. She has been in the Netherlands for a year and a half now, and she, too, speaks Dutch well. At an event organized by the Hocus Pocus Foundation (which works to create child-friendly spaces in asylum seeker centers), she met a singer with a guitar and was immediately hooked. The singer was too—she’s now Tesnim’s guitar teacher! Thanks to the donation of a beautiful guitar, Tesnim can start building a fun hobby, a lifelong passion, or a brilliant career. We don’t know yet what it will become, but at the very least, it allows her to forget the hardships and inconveniences of her situation for a while.
Many hours of fun
Yarik (38) is from Odessa, Ukraine, and has been living in Zwolle for a year now. He found us through a friend of a friend and asked for a guitar, “but an accordion would have been fine, too.” The accordion was available, and he immediately played a medley of Ukrainian songs on it. Yarik was a street musician in his home country, and his dexterity clearly shows it. Given the breadth of his repertoire, he’s sure to bring many hours of enjoyment to himself and those around him.
Let the refugees keep playing!
By making a financial contribution or donating an instrument through the Musical Instrument Fund, you can help refugees who play music. Thank you so much for your support!
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