“Let’s build, let’s believe, let’s be together” are the words of a poem that Guy, a young Israeli from Heartbeat, wrote recently.
Guy wrote these lyrics in response to the brutal conflict that broke out just months ago. He was a soldier in the Israeli army. He easily could have gone on to contribute to the conflict. But he didn’t. Why? Because of Heartbeat – a group of young people, Israeli and Palestinian – which he joined as soon as he was released from prison. They come together to create music and understanding and learn to trust those they have been told to fear. In a place where most young people’s experience of ‘the other side’ is guns, violence and hate, at Heartbeat things are different. These young, inspirational people want to change the current situation – together.
Despite the danger, Heartbeat runs weekly workshops in Haifa, Jerusalem and Tel Aviv-Jaffa. Here young people from both sides of the conflict learn skills in improvisation, songwriting, performance, music theory, communication and leadership – while creating rap, folk and pop.
£100 can buy a guitar so musicians like Guy can play alongside Palestinians in Heartbeat, giving voiceless young people a voice for peace.
Crucially, through this creative process, they explore the violence and hatred that separate and surround them. They build respect and trust towards each other. And they become a voice for the voiceless in their communities. They need money to buy instruments and equipment, pay for recording space, teachers and travel. Then they need to stage performances in the community, to spread their message of peace and understanding.
£15 could pay for one hour in a recording studio so people like Guy can record their music and send it through their communities.
If you’ve already donated to our Christmas appeal we would like to say a huge thank you. Our supporters make all the difference. You cannot imagine quite how important they are to us and how grateful we are to them. Their donations go a long way with our local peacebuilders, who work at local costs which are far cheaper than international operations.
If you would like to back the people across the world, fighting for peace this Christmas, then please do now.
