Damascus,
SANA- In appreciation of his humanitarian and cultural gift over more than fifty years, the Kayan Cultural Development Foundation honored the national stature and humanitarian role model, Father Elias Zahlawi, during the final preparations for the song “Let the Hope Live in Us” by the great late Mayada Bsilis, which will be sung by the Kayan children’s choir under the supervision of Maestro Samir Kwifati.
In a statement to SANA, Father Zahlawi said: "In light of Syria's current difficult reality, I find that we have to return to hope, because for more than ten years we have challenged the impossible and were able to withstand until the advocates of materialistic thought in the West described our steadfastness as close to a miracle."
Father Zahlawi continued: "It is true that today we are suffering from difficult circumstances, shortages on every level, and great disparities between people's conditions, but with that we say that the bet is on hope, which emerges from the heart of despair."
Father Zahlawi affirmed his absolute certainty that the resurrection of Syria is coming, and that whoever bets on man and on the Syrian child in particular is betting on the future, because this country has been gifted by God with great gifts of alphabet, music, agriculture, civilization and first engineering, and it is the cradle of religions.
Father Zahlawi expressed his hope to reconsider everything that builds the child from school, the home, the arts and all means of entertainment, and what builds the child through joy, hope, love, self-confidence, freedom, discovering talent, developing it and being happy with it.
Father Zahlawi praised what the Kayan Foundation and its organizers are doing, as he considered it a Syrian model in building the Syrian entity and a nucleus that must be emulated in our country, pointing to the cooperation of Maestro Koivati with the musical supervisor of children, Saada Al-Hakim, to teach children joy, self-confidence, and singing with others, and this is a very important matter. in building their personalities.
Regarding the presence of the late Basilis in the song through her voice, Father Zahlawi said: “When I listened to Mayada’s voice with the children today, I say that not only her voice is with us today, but her spirit is also present.”
Maestro Koivati said in a similar statement that the song “Keep Hope Aish Fina” from his words and melodies was sung by the late Mayada, but it was neither circulated nor photographed, as he is working today to bring the song back to life in Mayada’s voice, but with the children, expressing his happiness that the children enjoy singing and their joy in performing the song .
He pointed out that in the past, his presence in the children's activities was at the request of those in charge of them, but today he is the one who came to the Kayan Foundation with the encouragement of Father Zahlawi to provide the children with everything he can because they are in trust with us.
Maestro Kwifati explained that he has many projects for children exclusively, as he will revive the “Artist Project” project that he worked on before the war with his friends Helmy Jarrah and Munis Al-Mubayed, who are now outside Syria, as an opportunity for them to return to their homeland and work again on this project with enthusiasm and passion.
Koivati's choice to work with an entity was inspired by his wife's will to stay away from money and fame, and this is what this institution is working on by building the child in a correct manner.
Deputy Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Kayan, a graduate of the Higher Institute of Music, Saada Al-Hakim, explained that the institution works on many cultural, intellectual and sports activities, including collective singing, as it focuses on the performance of children, the layers of their voices, and how to sing correctly, stressing that the child is created while carrying a talent of his own. talent and put it in its rightful place.
Regarding honoring Father Zahlawi, Al-Hakim indicated that the Foundation works under the supervision of this creative person, who is the first and true supporter of it, and honoring him today is a token of thanks for everything he offers to all Syrians without exception.
Al-Hakim pointed out that Kayan is currently working on several projects, including cooperation with kindergartens and schools through the establishment of cultural and musical activities and work on educational curricula to reduce pressure on students during the study period.
Rasha Mahfoud