WEST BANK: Blind musician from town of Jenin dedicates her life to teaching music to blind children

Record ID: 563396

  • Title: WEST BANK: Blind musician from town of Jenin dedicates her life to teaching music to blind children
  • Date: 19th May 2011
  • Summary: VARIOUS OF BLIND STUDENTS TYPING BRAILLE ON TYPING MACHINES
  • Embargoed: 3rd June 2011 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: West bank, West bank
  • City:
  • Country: Palestinian Territories
  • Topics: People,Education
  • Reuters ID: LVA8P7KGHNLEUJS34R7530VEF592
  • Story Text: Najah Makhlouf was born blind. But that hasn't stopped her gaining a higher degree, joining a dance troupe and becoming a teacher.
    Now, at a school in the northern West Bank city of Jenin, Makhlouf devotes herself to teaching music to blind and partially-sighted children.
    The boys and girls who attend Al Nour School for the Blind rely on Braille to learn music and read and, aware of the challenges, Makhlouf has developed a curriculum especially adapted to their needs.
    "I studied music and made up a different curriculum for each class, according to their abilities. This curriculum is taught through the Braille system, and during each class, I ask them to type it. They have really improved their understanding of music," she said.
    Makhlouf says her music classes are a way of teaching self-expression, so that her students will be able to integrate themselves into the wider society more easily.
    The 43-year-old musician studied Arabic literature at Birzeit University, where she joined the El-Funoun Popular Dance Troupe. Now she wants to set up a blind music group with her own students.
    "As a Palestinian woman, and being blind too, I have an artistic mission, to protect the Palestinian heritage and establish a choir at Al Nour school," Makhlouf said.
    As well as teaching her students to read and write music, Makhlouf also gives the children an opportunity to learn a musical instrument and sing traditional songs, in a bid to encourage them to reach their full potential.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: Footage contains identifiable children: users must ensure that they comply with local laws and regulations governing the publishing of this material.
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