“Al Sununu” (“Swallow”) Palestinian Children’s choirs

From 2010 until 2015, AER implemented a social and educational pilot program based on music: « Al Sununu » Palestinian children’s choirs in the Middle East.

In total, 1185 children participated in « Al Sununu » Project.
The AER designs its programs to become self-sustaining after a pilot phase.

– Unite the children with the same program using their traditional music to become one voice and thus creating solidarity

– Preserve the traditional musical heritage of Palestine

– Give access to basic music education with music theory and Arab music history lessons

– Enrich the cultural life of children and the community

– Train Palestinian teachers for self-sustainability of choirs

– Build bridges among children through music

One repertoire, one program and one method was followed by all participating teachers

Each student has benefited from 1h30 of lessons twice a week including chorus, music theory (solfege) and Arab music history.

Year 1: Initiation to traditional repertoire and to music theory

Years 2 and 3: Enrichment of repertoire and improvement of basis

Years 4 and 5: Continuation of curriculum, with introduction to polyphony and introduction to Palestinian and Arab music history

Each student received educational material prepared in partnership with Edward Said National Conservatory of Music.

– Textbook of music theory

– Books of songs with illustrations, especially created by AER for « Al Sununu » students

– Music history book with illustrations, especially created by AER for « Al Sununu » students

Music teachers were provided with CD of specially recorded instrumental arrangement of all the songs included in the program and have benefited from special training and workshops lead by choirmasters.

At the end of each year, students were awarded with a certificate of completion from AER in partnership with a local Conservatory.

Each year, selected students, after audition and by teachers’ recommendation, had the opportunity to enter the Conservatories AER worked in partnership with.

The first pilot phase (2010-2013), implemented in the West Bank, Gaza, East Jerusalem, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon, demonstrated the huge impact of this project on children and their communities.

To celebrate this success, AER organised a concert in April 2013 gathering 23 choirs of more than 800 children singing simultaneously in 5 different cities in the Middle East and reunited by satellite technology.

This concert was broadcast at UNESCO headquarters in Paris on November 29th, 2014 honouring the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People.

During the second pilot phase (2013-2015), AER continued this project with 22 choirs in Gaza, Syria, Lebanon and East Jerusalem.

UNRWA (The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East)

Arab Music Institutes and cultural centres: Edward Saïd National Conservatory of Music (West Bank, East Jerusalem, Gaza), National Higher Conservatory of Music (Lebanon), National Conservatory of Music (Amman), Solhi El Wadi Association (Syria), Sahnaya Cultural Centre (Syria).

The Welfare Association

The European Union