Four years ago, East Brighton Woodcraft Folk wondered if it would be possible to host a Palestinian delegation at Common Ground international camp. A proposal was sent to the Edward Said National Conservatoire of Music (ESNCM) and they received a definite ‘Yes’.
An invitation
An invitation was sent to students:
The Woodcraft Folk believes strongly in equality and co-operation. Everyone is welcome at camp, whatever their ability. https://woodcraft.org.uk//
As a delegate, you will be open to meeting people and having new experiences. Enthusiasm to communicate is more important than knowledge of the English language. Common Ground is not a music camp but there will be opportunities to play your instrument, sing or dance if you would like to.
Covid postponed the international camp from 2020 to 2022. The young people who joined us this summer were 14 to 19 years old, two years older than when their names were put on the list of Palestinian guests.
The vision was simple. From Friday 29th July to Monday 8th August 2022, Woodcraft Folk and friends from around the world would come together on Common Ground – to live cooperatively, in solidarity and friendship, having lots of fun!
Partnership with Brighton Palestine Solidarity Campaign
Joint working paid off. Brighton Palestine Solidarity (BHPSC) participated joyfully in fundraising activities and host families were mainly recruited through BHPSC. Generosity from Trade Union members allowed for 16 invitations to be sent to the West Bank and Gaza. When we started out on this venture, we never thought that the budget would allow such a big group of delegates to participate in the camp, nor did we anticipate that all the visa applications submitted would have a positive outcome.
The visit turned into an unforgettable experience. In Brighton, there was a beautiful moment when Tamer Al Sahouri, ESNCM Academic Director, played Oud in the Music Room at the Royal Pavilion. Several students mentioned that, for them, the highlight of their visit had been the BBC Prom concert at the Royal Albert Hall. Layan Salman, a Grade 7 music student from the Bethlehem ESNCM branch, was delighted to meet Bridget le Huray at the Prom. Layan will be playing the cello donated by Bridget. The Prom concert was Tchaikovski’s 4th and the concert tickets were generously offered by Dr. David Shove.
Rabeea Eid, a Palestinian MA journalism student at Sussex University, was commissioned by Lena Saleh, PalMusic trustee, to record the visit. The documentary of the visit will be available soon.
A chance for participants from the West Bank and Gaza to meet in England
Some of the students had met two or three others in the group before coming to England but most of them had not met previously. However, when they got together, they played wonderfully together! At international camp in Northamptonshire, people came from the surrounding tented villages when the young Palestinians played around the campfire. At Common Ground’s closing ceremony, most of the 2600 camp participants from around the world listened to the ESNCM ensemble.
On the 9th August, the evening before they went home, the music students said ‘Goodbye’ at a concert at the Friends Meeting House. Introducing the concert, Khamis Abushaaban from Gaza mentioned that he had finally been able to meet Husam, his colleague from the West Bank. It was a very moving moment to see the students and staff from the West bank and Gaza play together.
Returning home with donated instruments
The ESNCM group took with them valuable instruments donated via PalMusic: Layan’s wonderful cello had its own seat on the flight to Amman. Saif took care of the viola, Nai carried a clarinet and Tareq managed to fit an oboe in his luggage. Reed making equipment also went to Palestine with the students, as did a couple of violins.
The camp offered a wide programme of activities https://www.commonground.camp/ and some of the students engaged in the workshop.
All of us who met the students have beautiful memories of time spent together in Brighton, London and Northamptonshire.