The Gaza girl dreaming of becoming a famous violinist
Newshour
BBC
4.2 • 1.1K Ratings
🗓️ 12 August 2025
⏱️ 3 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Amid the devastation in Gaza, remarkable stories of hope and resilience do emerge. Sixteen-year-old Sama Nijm, a gifted violinist from Gaza, is using music to bring comfort and healing to the youngest victims of the conflict. Some of the children have lost their parents, and in some cases, their limbs or arms.
BBC Newsday's Charlene Rodrigues spoke to Sama, and began by asking her what inspired her to become a violin teacher in the midst of war.
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | In times of deep hardship, music becomes more than a darkest moments. |
| 0:11.0 | They deserve a chance to feel joy, express themselves and recline a piece of their childhood. |
| 0:20.0 | Many of these children have lost homes, families, members or even part of their own bodies. |
| 0:27.6 | Music, them a voice when works fall short and a sense of belonging when the world feels broken. |
| 0:36.6 | How long have you been playing the violin? |
| 0:41.3 | I've been playing the violin since I was 11 years old. |
| 0:47.3 | The violin follows feelings and hope. |
| 0:55.0 | How do you think music lessons help the children with their mental health? |
| 1:05.0 | The music is a healing for the children, helping them to feel childhood. |
| 1:16.6 | What I found is that in the midst of shows, |
| 1:21.6 | are drawn to anything that gives them structural purpose and beauty. |
| 1:30.3 | What are some of the challenges you face? |
| 1:34.3 | Not enough instruments, broken strings, no proper spaces to teach. |
| 1:40.3 | Some children come hungry, so they can't play violin |
| 1:46.0 | And focus |
| 1:48.0 | Or traumatized making it hard for them to focus |
| 1:52.6 | Other have lost limbs |
| 1:54.5 | So we adapt how they play |
| 1:57.5 | And of course there is |
| 1:59.7 | The emotional weight teaching joy and creativity while surrounded by suffering |
| 2:07.6 | you are only 16 and obviously very talented what are your dreams i want to be a famous violinist. |
| 2:20.3 | Hearing God, as I need a life to live, |
... |
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