The Team

Al Mada and the Community Music Therapy Center is run by an inspiring team of professionals from all walks of life. Some team members are full-time staff, while others are part-time, board members, or freelancers who regularly collaborate with the organization, or ad-hoc consultants and volunteers. Together they make up a solid and proactive team dedicated to advancing Al Mada’s vision of enhancing community development through the arts in Palestine.

Al Mada’s board members also represent a cross section of experience and expertise in the fields of education, development and human rights. They hold senior positions in local and international civil society organizations including the Palestinian Agricultural Relief Committees, UNDP/PAPP, Save the Children, UNICEF and the YMCA.

The Management Team:

Reem Abdul Hadi, Executive Director

Reem is one of the co-founders of Al Mada who came to the organization with an M.A. in International Cooperation and Development. Reem has 25 years experience in the fields of development and human rights, having worked with leading organizations including Al Haq and UNDP. She is a specialist in communication strategy planning, a member of the Global Technical Network in WHO-Geneva.  She is an external evaluator, and currently the Executive Director of Al-Mada.

Odeh Turjman, Co-founder, Artistic and Technical Adviser

Odeh is one of the main founders of Al Mada and is the artistic director and technical adviser to the organization. He has over 30 years experience as a musician, composer and music educator. He personally designed and introduced a curriculum to initiate music education in schools operated by the Ministry of Education and higher Education. He has a B.A. in business administration, and an M.A. in Music Education.

The Technical Team:

Moffaq Abdelfatah, Music Therapist

In 2003 Moffaq graduated with a B.A. in Music and Music Education from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, which he followed with a diploma in Music Therapy from the D.Y. College in Jerusalem. Moffaq has been working as a music therapist in East Jerusalem, Haifa and Akko since 2004. In 2009 he joined the Al Mada team where he has designed and implemented a number of early childhood, inclusive education and psycho-social programs.

Khitam Edelbi – Expressive Arts Therapist

Khitam’s dynamic career has seen her work in the field of drama under many guises. An actress, TV presenter, drama instructor, expressive art therapist and author of four guides on teaching drama, Khitam also holds diplomas in early childhood education, a B.A. in Drama and Education and an M.A. in Expressive Art Therapies from Lesley University in Boston. Khitam joined the Al Mada team in 2010 where she has been working on early childhood development programs, counseling and psycho-social interventions.

Buran Sadada, Music Therapist

Buran holds a B.A. in Musicology from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and an M.A in Music Therapy  from the David Yellin Academic College of Education. Since graduating she has amassed significant experience in using music therapy to work with children with autism, articulation disorders and hearing problems, children living with cancer and special needs. She also worked as a counselor and provided guidance to teenagers at several East Jerusalem schools before joining Al Mada’s team in 2009.

Ashraf Qawasmeh

Ashraf is Al Mada’s chief sound engineer, working primarily with productions taking place in the recording studio.

The Administration Team:

Hind Ayyad, Project Manager

Hind studied Computer Engineering  at Al Quds University and subsequently worked as an IT and multi-media specialist before moving on to become a project coordinator for Centre for Continuing Education at Birzeit University where she also provided trainings in I.T and multi-media skills. She joined the Al Mada team in 2011.

Mujahed Abdallah

Mujahed is our janitor, a regular and much appreciated face to see in the mornings.