Projects    

Nazareth, 1999

Children's Festival

Since 1986, ACFA has arranged different festivals for children in different areas of the country, serving children ages 4-14 years old. Beginning with children's art exhibitions and eventually including music festivals, ACFA has provided children with the opportunity to perform and compete with one another using their creative abilities. A committee of Arab musicians judged their performances, and for three nights in Nazareth, ACFA held performances by talented children, with an evening's performance featuring several instruments: violin, piano, guitar, flute and ude (an traditional Arab guitar).

ACFA also holds special festivals for the mentally and physically disabled children of the Palestinian community, as well as various activity festivals, e.g. flower arrangement and kite flying. The aim of these festivals is to draw out the creative side of the children, encouraging them to make old things new with their imagination. Discarded plastic cups can become a vase for a flower. A simple kite can become a work of art.

Maker, 2001

ACFA holds folk festivals to exhibit Palestinian traditions. The children actively participation in the preparations, including the collection and presentation of traditional Palestinian dress and the performance of traditional Palestinian folk songs and dances. Even their parents participate by preparing traditional Palestinian folk dishes for all to enjoy.

ACFA frequently conducts "mobile festivals", bringing puppet shows, musical performances and children's competitions to different cities and villages in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

At the end of every summer camp, ACFA holds a special festival to celebrate the conclusion of the experience.

Presently, ACFA is preparing the largest festival it has ever held in celebration of the 100th issue of "Al-Hayat Lilatfal", the ACFA magazine for children ages 9-12. ACFA began publication of "Al-Hayat Lilatfal" in 1986. The 100th issue will arrive in April 2002; the festival will take place in Nazareth.