Trojan
Women
Project
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Syrian refugee children and vulnerable youth in Jordan compose a powerful anthem for the World Food Programme team
The Trojan Women Project is proud to present a transformative initiative empowering Syrian refugees and displaced children through the arts.
In a landmark collaboration with the World Food Programme, a group of Syrian refugee children and vulnerable Jordanian youth have written and recorded their own original rap song, 'If Music Be The Food Of Love.' Led by experts Bassam and Edwina Issa—a distinguished leader in educational drama in Jordan—this project serves as a beacon of hope and community building.
By integrating bilingual music and drama therapy, we provide a safe space for participants aged 4-17 to process their experiences and express their aspirations for the future.
This year-long venture utilized therapeutic workshops to foster social cohesion between Syrian refugees and underprivileged local families. These sessions, conducted in both Arabic and English, were designed to help displaced children overcome trauma and inhibitions. Through creative writing, vocal training, and percussion, participants documented their memories and goals, turning their personal journeys into a powerful musical message. As part of a larger visibility campaign for food security, this music-based drama project highlights the resilience of young people facing displacement. Our team of artistic specialists and WFP officials worked side-by-side to ensure these children have a voice, using the universal language of music to advocate for their rights and well-being while promoting global awareness of humanitarian needs in the region.
Our Impact & Participants
This initiative empowered 31 Syrian and Jordanian children, involving 18 boys and 13 girls.
The group included 19 Syrian refugees and 12 underprivileged local youth who engaged in intensive five-week workshops and professional recording sessions. While 4 Syrian participants relocated to Europe during the project, the remaining youth transformed their lived experiences into art. These children utilized drama therapy to process trauma, documenting their scars and dreams through powerful verse. According to Edwina Issa, the project revealed a profound sense of optimism and resilience among the refugee youth.
By sharing their voices in performances across Amman, these children have become advocates for hope, using music to bridge communities and showcase the enduring strength of the human spirit despite the challenges of displacement.
Impact and Final Results
This initiative reached its peak with a powerful fusion of poetry, rap, and melody, created by Syrian refugee children and vulnerable Jordanian youth alongside professional artists.
By refining these creative expressions into a professional song structure, we helped participants process trauma while developing tangible artistic skills. The resulting anthem was professionally recorded in a premier Jordanian studio, serving as a beacon of hope and cross-cultural unity. To drive further awareness and support for these young voices, the Trojan Women Project is now raising funds for an official music video.
You can support this mission by purchasing our limited-edition CD for 5JD, with all proceeds funding the video and future drama therapy programs.
Looking Ahead: Sustaining Hope for Syrian Refugee Children
Phase Two: Upon completing the music video, we will launch a strategic fundraising campaign to expand our therapeutic drama and music workshops across Amman and broader Jordan. With the backing of renowned regional artists as project ambassadors, we aim to reach more displaced youth. Phase Three: Global distribution of the song and video will drive long-term sustainability, ensuring ongoing psychological support and creative empowerment for Syrian refugees and vulnerable Jordanian children.
Meet the Experts Driving Our Mission
Our project is spearheaded by a dedicated team with years of on-the-ground experience supporting displaced communities. Lead by Edwina Issa, a renowned authority in drama therapy and education in Jordan, our team specializes in using the arts to foster healing for refugees. She is supported by Bassam Al Khanafseh, a veteran in project administration, and world-class Jordanian opera singer Zeina Barhoum, who provides professional vocal training. Our specialists, including Tamara Ziadat and Syrian liaison Nisreen Burhan Dabdoub, ensure every workshop is culturally sensitive and therapeutically sound. The team includes Hayfa Matahen, Ziad Mazzawi, and Trojan Women Project directors Charlotte Eagar and William Stirling.
Trojan Women is a Scottish Registered SCIO charity (charity number SC050525)
Refuge Media Productions CIC is an English registered community interest company (company number 09603714)
Contact Us
info@trojanwomenproject.org
charlotte.eagar@trojanwomenproject.org
william.stirling@trojanwomenproject.org
PHONE
07769603233