A’det Ghona (The Singing Circle) is a non-profit initiative aiming at helping others express, explore and heal through group singing. Launched in Egypt in 2017, The Singing Circle the first and only initiative in the country that used vocal art to create a safe space for expression and positive interaction among hundreds of people of different ages, backgrounds and places.
Objectives
- Creating a safe space where people can express themselves freely without fear of being judged, bullied or pitied.
- Helping others realize the healing power of group singing as a tool of expression that doesn’t necessarily require a good voice or singing skills.
- Spreading the culture of interactive art in Egypt where the audience is part of the experience.
How does it work
- The Singing Circle starts with creating a large circle of attendees (20-50 persons on average) so everyone will be seeing each other.
- Dalia then starts introducing the initiative and setting the ground rules.
- After an ice-breaker, Dalia facilitates 4-5 interactive singing-based games she designed to involve all participants as individuals and groups.
- After 2.5 hours, the circle is concluded and the participants are invited to an optional session called Ma Yahtagoho Almostameoon (“What listeners need” in Arabic) where Dalia listens carefully to any participant who wants to share a feeling or a story in search for a song that accurately represents it. To create a one-of-a-kind memory using her diverse music knowledge, Dalia chooses and sings a perfect-match song under one condition: the listener has never heard of this song before.
Singing Circles outside Cairo
The Singing Circle is aiming at decentralization of art and taking the experience to people outside the capital of Greater Cairo. In May 2018, Dalia organized the first singing circle in the city of Tanta. In December of the same year, Dalia organized another circle in Alexandria. In October 2019, the city of Minia welcomed the first singing circle in Upper Egypt.
Social responsibility
To support non-profit initiatives and associations, The Singing Circle began in 2018 to organize thematic circles to display the products and activities of social development projects such as “Dawar Kitchen” and “Greenish”, as well as providing free circles to beneficiaries of some charitable organizations and institutions such as Noon, Cancer Care, Alwan W Awtar and Lilac.
Women empowerment
Women make up a large percentage of The Singing Circle’s attendees. Celebrating International Women’s Day in 2019, an exceptional circle was organized. In addition, some circles’ attendance was ladies-only to provide psychological and social support, especially for women exposed to violence or cancer fighters.
Because the founders are strong advocates of women’s empowerment and financial independence, they provide opportunities for small business owners among girls and women to display their products and distribute free samples during some circles.
Parental and children support
The Singing Circle is a child-friendly space. Its founder, Dalia Younis, has a long experience in children’s training, development and rights. She is keen to invest such experience in involving children as young as 6 in the circle’s activities just like adults.
The Singing Circle encourages parents to attend with their children by offering free registration for children to be part of quality time and beautiful family memories.
Women support
Women make up a large percentage of The Singing Circle’s attendees. Celebrating International Women’s Day in 2019, an exceptional circle was organized. In addition, some circles’ attendance was ladies-only to provide psychological and social support, especially for women exposed to violence or cancer fighters.
Because the founders are strong advocates of women’s empowerment and financial independence, they provide opportunities for small business owners among girls and women to display their products and distribute free samples during some circles.
Singing Circle Premiere
This is a custom version of the Singing Circle tailored for a smaller number of audience, specific themes or events such as food lovers, singles at Valentine’s Day..etc.
English 
Arabic