Short Term Consultancy - External Evaluation of the “Community Music Program”

Background

Taawon (Welfare Association) is an independent non-profit organisation established in 1983. Taawon strives to make a distinguished contribution toward furthering the progress of the Palestinians, preserving their heritage and identity, supporting their living culture and building civil society in the different working areas it serves: the West Bank (including Jerusalem), the Gaza Strip, the 1948 Areas, and the Palestinian communities in Lebanon.

Taawon works closely with local, grassroots organisations to address the specific needs of the Palestinian refugees living in difficult circumstances throughout the country. We support the implementation of a range of initiatives under three specific tracks: Investing in People, Building Resilient Communities and Securing Humanitarian Relief.  We work in close partnership with more than 25 local partners and touch the lives of more than 100,000 Palestinian refugees annually.

About the Music Program

Taawon supports the provision of musical education to children, adolescents, and youth across different Palestinian refugee camps.  A total of 230  children and youth aged between 9 and 20 years are enrolled in the program; they are distributed over four Palestinian refugee camps in the north, south and in Beirut (Beddawi, Naher el Bared, Shatila, Burj El Barajneh and Burj Chemali).  The program has been running for more than ten years working in collaboration with three partner organizations namely: Beit Atfal el-Soumoud, Al-Kamanjati and Prima Materia.

The objective of the program is two-fold: 1) build capacity of the children and provide them with the means to enhance confidence, well-being and increase their opportunity for a healthier and more fulfilling life; and 2) promote the Palestinian musical and cultural heritage among the young Palestinians living in exile and away from their homeland.