Hi Dana It was great to see you as well and have a time at Ashoka's office I think that Alrowwad space availability to everyone in the camp as an alternative to the street, where most violences happen in terms of children and youngmen fighting each other, or in relation to frequent Israeli incursions in the camp, and the violent confrontations that happen between young men and Israeli soldiers make it a safe place of empworment for them with a great impact to find the peace within and express themselves in most non-violent means. One of the stories is a bout a young man, who was completely closed within himself, and didn't want to interact with others, always shy and intimated. He has been in the theatre and dance program since 1998, and he is actually a 2nd year student in biology at the university... he is a permanent volunteer in alrowwad and trainer for younger children. Another young man was continuously quarelling with others, beating them, steals things, destroying public properties, revolted against everything. We involved him in supportive education, with psychological follow up, and in drawing lessons... he needed a lot of attention, and now he is completely a different young man. Other girls who were with us since more than 10 years now, are actually board members in Alrowwad. We do a lot of outreach work with young men at risk, workshops, and awareness campains. Mostly we use theatre, photography and video with them. SOme of them now see photography or video as mission of their life... they have sen how their work was valued and people liked it. A group have done aslo a video about drug addicts in a step to launch a drug awareness campain as well in schools. I do hope that clarifies things for you. I am of course available for any further expalnations

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Thank you kindly for your message. I believe that we share so much everywhere... Arts are such amazing tools and ways that shows what beauty and humanity we have inside everyone of us, and illuminates us in the darkness of injustice, ignorance and intolerance... When we tour in different countires, I usually take my young people to go in difficult neighborhood, to show them they are not alone in their struggle to have their rights and justice... Our main problem is Israeli occupation, but even in "rich countries", and "free countires" a lot of children, young people and adults do not have their rights, their health insurance, their homes... our way to break also the stereotypes and share with others... Arts make people closer to each other... they are like love, show to us the beauty of those who we love and mask everything else. I looked at your website, and I do admire the work and achievements... I look forward as well to seek possibilities for partnership or exchanges love an dpeace Abdelfattah Abusrour

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