CONFERENCE

Without Barriers

In February, our team in Jordan brought together participants with local leaders and decision makers to take part in our first ever conference: Without Barriers. During the day, the team created a space of exchange and reflection, aiming to promote the integration of theatre and play into the education system in Jordan. 

There were three panels during the day, with each panel opening up a direct dialogue between participants, decision makers, and a member of Seenaryo’s team. Among the local leaders who attended the conference were Samar Abu Ghazaleh (Queen Rania Teachers Academy), Reem Arida (President of Shadeed Forum for Culture and Arts), and Karam Zawahra (Jordanian Ministry of Culture). Mr. Zawahra reflected,

The biggest challenge to integrating arts education in schools is the societal perception of the arts as luxuries, without realising the important role they play in building confidence.

Throughout the day, there were opportunities for attendees to see scenes from Seenaryo plays and to engage in theatre activities led by participants. After performing, the participants then joined the panels to share more about their experiences and answer questions from the audience. One participant from Zarqa, Kamal, shared that for him,

Theatre isn’t just a traditional performance, but the deepest form of education.

With our region facing so much uncertainty, the tools of theatre and play are increasingly vital in supporting the next generation to grow up to be confident and creative leaders. Without Barriers demonstrated this key role and laid the foundation for embedding the arts more deeply into the education system in Jordan.

The conference was made possible by generous support from Drosos Foundation and the René Moawad Foundation, Agence Française de Développement (AFD), International Rescue Committee (IRC), and Urgent Action Fund Africa (UAF-Africa).