Last year I did a study about empathy. I learned that 98 % of our humans have a social brain. We can practise that brain and develop our empathetic abbilaties. How? By telling stories, bij reason, by curiousity, by asking questions, by music - art.

 

After my study, a Dutch friend, Otto, and I wrote a pamlet.

It's called Song for Empathy.

 

Weeks after, via facebook, I was invited at the Marnixstreet in Amsterdam at the "opvangcenter".

Madhat, Maher, Wasim and Zina spontaniously gave a concert. I was overwelmed. They sang about their green land. In their passionad singing I saw the landscape they had to leave. I saw the mess. I got touched by there voices because I was not used to so much feeling in it.

 

But then Madhat told me about the Koran and the bible, and that Jesus is in the Koran, as passenger Mohammed in the Bible.

Madhat said: "Next to many synagoges in Damascus there where churches build."

He said; "I'm you and your country very greatfull to have me here."

I said: "I never heard a moslim saying that in my face."

 

Well, Madhat Kataf told me more and more stories. Some of them where horrible, still music keeps him a little bit going, waiting endlessley for his permit papers.

 

I have to say: empathy is not always easy. Sometimes Wasim and Madhat's stories kept with me for days, but then they dissapeared under a blanket of Western prosperity.

 

Nevertheless, Madhat, Maher, Wasim and Zina among others joined us in the musical project Song for Empathy.

Got the stentght to stand up again.

And went in a studio, later we made a clip.

 

We had good times, but also worked hard.

 

Madhat put Arabic lyrics to the song. Sometimes in the clip it's like we have a conversation through music. It felt it that way.

 

Madhat and I also gave a presentation at Pakhuis de Zwijger for members of the European Commission.

 

Song for Empathy is a small project, and the music industry in Holland is not easy, but if we can make some money with the song we will make another on the same theme with Madhat and our other friends.

 

 

 

 

WORK