Community Arts: MAFRAQ / JORDAN 2019
STORY OF HOPE
Location: Mafraq (Jordan)
When: AUG 2019
Project Partner: NOIVA team
Background: The war in Syria is going on since 2013. Over 1.4 Million Syrien refugees escaped to Jordan. Mafraq is located at the Syrien border. Since the beginning of the war, the population doubled and many Refugees are still waiting for the day they can return home. Many of them, lost hope and feel very desperate after all this year of war and rejection. Noiva is running a community center and a school for small kids.
Outcome: Together with the community we painted a story on a 42 meters long wall, about regain HOPE, which once got lost. The story was written by Syrien teenagers together with the inspiration of many adults, kids and teenager from Syria and Jordan. Out of the finished wall murals, we created a motion film to encourage people in desperate circumstances to never lose hope in their lives.
“For the first time in my life I could enjoy the moment and feel others, I could taste what does family mean.
All the moments we spent time together to draw, eat and talk - It all felt like getting a new life…
and a new love ... and new happiness is surrounding”
AMAL: A STORY OF HOPE
by Rukaya Mohamad, Banan Albalawi and Rahel Lam
Once upon a time there was a girl named Ahlam (Dreams)
But the dreams turned into Alam (Pain)
and were overshadowed by the darkness of her situation
Her life seemed to break into thousand pieces
like a cup thrown on the ground.
She said to her dove “Amal: I’m a like a tree cut off without root”
I’m so sad, I even forgot the smell of the air
I’m just drowning in darkness.
Suddenly she heard the sound of her community calling her.
"Come my daughter, I’m so proud of you"
She smelled her favourite food from mom’s kitchen
"Let me hug you really tight," said her sister
"Everything’s gonna be alright again"
And the jokes of her friend made her laugh.
Drawn from the warmth and help of her community
she embraced Amal the dove
started crying from her heart.
She felt that her pain got washed clean
and the tears turned into diamonds.
She saw flowers growing around her
and Jasmine bloom creating a beautiful sight,
which encouraged butterflies to fly high around her cheerfully.
She held Amal in her hands, saying
Humans cannot live without hope
We all need a family, a community,
a place where we can live safely,
where we are carried by the hope of peace.
OUR PROJECT TEAM
From left: Damon, Rahel, Johanna, Anna, Rebekka, Christoph, Jonas, Beat
ANTICIPATION:
150+ kids/adults
are Involved in the wall painting process
