The Alrowwad Cultural and Theatre Society, based in the camp, exemplifies a cultural revolution taking place in Palestine today. Created in 1998, it is a genuine community center, offering computer training, a library, photography and video editing, music and visual arts education, and a gym for residents of all ages. But its core project is its youth theater. Founding director, poet, playwright, and educator Dr. Abdelfattah Abusrour sees theater as a “nonviolent way of saying we are human beings, we are not born with genes of hatred and violence, we do not conform to the stereotype of Palestinians only capable of throwing stones or burning tires.” Born and raised in Aida, Abusrour knows occupation firsthand. He took refuge in scholarship, earning a doctorate in biological and medical engineering, but gave up a promising career in science to devote his life to creating a “beautiful theater of resistance” that would unleash the creative capacity of young people to tell their stories. He is not interested in building Palestinian-Israeli dialogue, or other such liberal projects that he believes ultimately contribute to Israel’s normalization, the effort to keep Palestinians and their life conditions separate, contained. More here.