MERCY Humanitarian UK’s (MHUK) Drum for Hope (DFH) project, in which a group of Syrian refugee children in Nottinghamshire play drums as part of their cultural and psychosocial activity.

 

This initiative was launched by Maybank Group Malaysia at the Invest Asia conference in London on 4th May 2017. The focus of the campaign was to use Arts (specifically drumming) to help refugees clildren, who have gone through major disruotions in life, heal and rediscover their confidence and potential. 

 

The project is being implemented by MHUK and sponsored by Maybank Heart; whilst the drumming techniques are taught by drum group, Hands Percussion.

 

Drum for Hope provides weekly drumming classes to a group of 20 Syrian refugee children, between the ages of 8 to 18. The children, who arrived in the UK over a year ago, are residing in Nottinghamshire and are either at school or college there; the drumming classes are held at a community centre in Newark.

 

The children was quick to learn the rhythms and drumming patterns, and are enjoying the sessions very much. But perhaps most importantly, it has been known that drumming as a group performance art has the power to release emotions, heal, invigorate, increase self -confidence and act as a form of psychosocial support.

 

The children performed at Merdeka Carnival in Brickendonbury on 23rd September 2018. It was their first major showcase and it was an excellent platform for MHUK to share one of our community projects, especially to Malaysians and our British friends who have been supporting us since we started in 2014.