SOS children Mohiy al-Kardossy – Cairo   Singer Toni Qattan performed before 200 children from SOS villages Saturday, in the Jordanian capital of Amman, entertaining the orphaned children and bringing smiles to their faces as part of the “Smile with Us” festival.
The event, held in Landmark Hotel, was organised by volunteers led by social activist Mohammed Rahal and Amal Arshid in response to the Arab League’s call for an Orphan’s Day in which the children are brought together in a celebratory atmosphere.
Al-Qattan performed a number of his songs, took pictures with the children and handed out CDs of his music.
Qattan touched on the situation in the Gaza Strip at the event, speaking about the tragic existence of children in Gaza, highlighting the child victims of the bombardment and wishing the children of the strip peace, improved conditions and an end to violence.
The organisers of the festival had also set up the fundraising event called “Bag & Pencil” in which Qattan also took part in. The proceeds went to buying school supplies for around 1,000 school children in refugee camps for Palestinians in Jordan. The initiative was born of a visit to a refugee camp in Jordan that revealed the dire conditions in which orphaned and poor schoolchildren live, with no access to the most basic school supplies.