Comfort
During the dark days leading up to Christmas, everyone feels the urge to visit family and friends and share music and stories. For those who have had to leave their homes behind and must make do in a country with different customs, the sense of loss is even more poignant at such times than usual.
Fortunately, through our “Keep Playing” campaign, we are sometimes able to offer support. The following overview once again demonstrates that music, in all its various forms and manifestations, can be a source of comfort.
Art
Artem is 34 years old and comes from Yekaterinburg, Russia, where he worked as an IT specialist. He fled the oppressive situation in his country and is now staying on a ship in Krimpen aan den IJssel. He is passionate about music and played several instruments in Russia, including the bayan (a Russian variant of the accordion). He has now acquired a “Western” accordion. He expects to get the hang of it quickly and will derive a great deal of pleasure and comfort from it.
Art
Sickness
Of course, we regularly receive requests for non-Western instruments. Unfortunately, these instruments are very scarce within our network, but sometimes one turns up that is incredibly valuable to a refugee, such as this “oud,” an Arabic lute. It was slightly damaged, but after a repair, it was back in top condition.
Sickness
Azar is 31, comes from Jordan, and lives in a shelter in the Bijlmer. He studied for five years under the “old” system and is passionate about music and dance—a passion that led to his expulsion from his clan and even to the destruction of his instrument. Now that he has a good instrument again, he can once more devote himself to his passion and will seek out other musicians to play with and exchange ideas and experiences.
Zachariah
Arianna with Rashid
Zakhar & Arianne
Zakhar is 10 years old. He fled Ternopil, in western Ukraine, with his parents and brother. They have been living in Doetinchem since 2022. Arianna is also 10 years old and comes from Zhytomyr in northern Ukraine. She has been living in Doetinchem with her parents since 2024. There, they met Rashid, a Ukrainian flute teacher. Rashid teaches recorder and flute lessons to the children at the shelter. Together with his wife Olena, who teaches piano, he offers the children a chance to relax and enriches their lives at the shelter.
Thanks to our initiative, the children now have good instruments. And even young children have a strong longing for home: Both children said that they especially love Ukrainian music.
Want to support this campaign?
Would you like to help us with our emergency relief campaign, “Keep Playing”? Please support us with a donation. Thank you very much!
Support