- Title: Gaza teacher designs costumes to entertain children
- Date: 24th May 2016
- Summary: AL-NUSEIRAT REFUGEE CAMP, GAZA (MAY 21, 2016) (REUTERS) COSTUME MAKER, HANI AL-SHARIF, ENTERING HIS WORKSHOP VARIOUS OF AL-SHARIF AND MEMBER OF AL-NAWRAS ART GROUP, IBRAHIM AL-QRINAWI, CUTTING SPONGE PIECES TO MAKE CARTOON COSTUMES VARIOUS OF AL-SHARIF PUTTING GLUE ON SPONGE PIECES COSTUME HEADS / AL-SHARIF MAKING HEAD FOR A COSTUME FROM SPONGE PIECES VARIOUS OF AL-SHARIF PUTTING GLUE ON COVER FOR COSTUME'S HEAD PART (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) COSTUME MAKER, HANI AL-SHARIF, SAYING: "The shops that sell these kinds of costumes are limited in the Gaza Strip, there are two or three shops. They asked us for 1000 Shekels ($260 USD) per piece. We, as volunteers, we do not have the ability to buy one for 1000 Shekels. We needed more than one costume, two or three. We went home, not desperate, but we went home thinking how to create an alternative and we said that we will create our own costumes and wear them." VARIOUS OF AL-SHARIF AND AL-QRINAWI PUTTING COVER ON COSTUME'S HEAD PART AL-SHARIF WORKING ON HEAD PART OF COSTUME AL-SHARIF CUTTING HOLES FOR EYES OPENINGS (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) COSTUME MAKER, HANI AL-SHARIF, SAYING: "The situation in Gaza itself, away from other areas, requires using these costumes, especially for psychological treatment for what they have seen during many wars. Children need entertainment and these costumes are very attractive for children." COSTUME PARTS ON TABLE VARIOUS OF MEN WEARING CARTOON COSTUMES, WAVING AND DANCING, WHILE AL-SHARIF WORKS ON COSTUME MAN WEARING COSTUME AND WAVING (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) AL-NAWRAS ART GROUP MEMBER, IBRAHIM AL-QRINAWI, SAYING: "We wear the costume and feel comfortable in it, especially because he made us holes inside. When we wear the costume we do not sweat and we do not get tired. When somebody wears it, they do not face these issues." AL-QRINAWI HELPING OTHER MEMBER OF AL-NAWRAS ART GROUP, AMER AL-SAMAK, PUT ON HIS COSTUME AL-SAMAK IN COSTUME
- Embargoed: 8th June 2016 14:37
- Keywords: Palestinians Gaza cartoon costumes. therapy therapist
- Location: AL-NUSEIRAT REFUGEE CAMP, GAZA
- City: AL-NUSEIRAT REFUGEE CAMP, GAZA
- Country: Palestinian Territories
- Topics: Society/Social Issues
- Reuters ID: LVA0014J602TX
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:A Palestinian teacher from the al-Nuseirat refugee camp in Gaza has turned a room in his house into a small workshop, where he makes costumes for children's parties.
Hani al-Sharif's first had the idea in 2009 when he was part of a voluntary art group that performed in costumes for children's events.
Al-Sharif said that many of the children were suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder from the cross-border conflict with Israel.
He said he began making costumes because the cost of buying them ready made was very high.
"The shops that sell these kinds of costumes are limited in the Gaza Strip, there are two or three shops. They asked us for 1000 Shekels ($260 USD) per piece. We, as volunteers, we do not have the ability to buy one for 1000 Shekels. We needed more than one costume, two or three. We went home, not desperate, but we went home thinking how to create an alternative and we said that we will create our own costumes and wear them," he said.
Al-Sharif's costumes are made out of sponge, glue and cork. His creations take up to five hours to make and usually sell for between $50 to $77 USD.
The costumes are based on popular cartoon characters and animals.
The 31-year-old also crafts his costumes with comfort for the wearer in mind.
"We wear the costume and feel comfortable in it, especially because he made us holes inside. When we wear the costume we do not sweat and we do not get tired. When somebody wears it, they do not face these issues," said member of the al-Nawras Art Group, Ibrahim al-Qrinawi, who wears the costumes for entertaining.
Another member of the group, Amer al-Samak, said he feels that that Al-Sharif's creations are better quality than imported ones.
"For me, I tried one that was imported from outside, it was very tight and the costume itself was very wide and four or five people would wear it, it does not fit you and you do not feel good while wearing it," he said.
Al-Sharif has made more than 400 costumes for several groups in Gaza, hoping to bring some joy to children across the enclave. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2016. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None