Introduction

Al-Rowwad (which means “Pioneers”) Theatre began the preparation for the first theatrical play in March 2000, regrouping children in Aida Camp who have theatrical and artistic inclination. The activity of the theatre came after the support of Aida Youth Center which provided a place for rehearsals, and the administration board of Al-Rowwad Theatre which is composed of volunteers who made their priority the children of the camp and their suffering.

Al-Rowwad Theatre was established to present plays with artistic expression reflecting the situation of children in refugee camps, and their sufferings and stresses on their rights. It was founded mainly to stimulate the children creativity and artistic taste, academic and moral progress.

The first play “Ihna wlad elmokhayam – We are the children of the camp” speaks about the Palestinian refugees, the Nakba. It talks about the children of the camps who have never lived a childhood as other children of the world, who have never enjoyed what other children enjoy. It is the screams of these children, the screams of their parents and their future children. It is the scream of children who might have  a deeper experience than a lot of other children of their age in other parts of the world.  

This play, is a simple contribution to remind those who have forgotten of the legitimate rights of the Palestinians and Palestinian refugees, those rights that no one has the authority to give up or abandon.

This play was written and directed by Dr. AbdelFattah Abu-Srour (Director of Al-Rowwad Theatre) and Music was by Mahmoud Abu Kamal and Ra’fat Hani.

Due to the recent Intifada, and due to the danger because of the location of the youth center at cross fires, we were obliged to rent another place, in order to protect our children in case of bombardment or firing at the camp, and to continue our activities, which has created a financial difficulty for us. We are not supported financially, and our administration members are volunteers, but all the workshops need materials and the trainers as well need to be paid. We were the only activity for children by the Aida Youth Center since all other sport activities have been stopped due to the current situation. Therefore, any help financial or material as well as volunteers in art, drama, language, story telling, computers and others would be highly appreciated. We need your help in order to help our children and to take them out of the streets so that they can be real builders for a brighter future for themselves and the generations to come.

Photos of play

Why Al-Rowwad?

Al-Rowwad Theatre aims to help the children of the camp, to get in contact with the world, to go beyond the camp and the city and the country… To get in contact with other children in Arab and foreign countries, to share with them the experience of being a child, and being some how different.