The Children’s
Village
The Idea
In the course of December, two months into the war, the number of displaced people in the southern town of Rafah had grown to hundreds of thousands. As the Israel onslaught kept but worsening, people from the northern parts of the Strip started to build informal structures to create a sense of settlement.
After bringing medical supplies to Gaza and purchasing 500 winter clothes, Awni and team felt that something more sustainable and non-material needed to be done to help the many young people navigate through the trauma they are forced to endure. The team started a new chapter of the Palestine Humanitarian Response campaign and built a children’s village outside the IDPs camp in Rafah.
Amidst the chaos, play-based therapy offers a safe space for children to express their emotions, fears, and anxieties, aiding in emotional healing by providing understanding and support. Moreover, engaging in games and play amid chaotic circumstances helps children regain a sense of control and routine, restoring a semblance of normalcy. Play activities enable children to develop resilience and coping mechanisms, vital for overcoming challenges even in the toughest circumstances. Games and play foster social interaction among children, promoting bonding, empathy, and a sense of community essential for their emotional well-being.
Children have endured immense hardship and psychological stress; our team helps them by providing opportunities for emotional release and therapeutic play, which becomes not only important but also a fundamental aspect of their recovery and well-being. Through this project, we've created job opportunities and income for 18 individuals who are grappling with a collapsed economy and a lack of opportunities at this challenging time.
We have successfully built the children’s village outside the IDPs camp in Rafah. Everyday, we initiate activities with over 250 kids.
A team of 15 incredible talented guys work with the children, leaving huge smiles on their faces and restoring a sense of life amidst this catastrophic situation outside the camp. The children’s village established as a safe and supportive environment for emotional release through games and therapeutic play, especially crucial in these challenging times. We focus on trauma relief, emotional healing, restoration of normalcy, and building their resilience. War and displacement have caused traumatic experiences for children. Emotional release through games and play helps them process trauma in a non-threatening way.
Activities
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Playing together builds community and helps children reclaim a sense of personal value and self worth.
Activities like drawing or face painting allow children to explore their own creativity and have a sense of connectedness and belonging.
Being able to laugh and experience fun and enjoyment can restore a sense of identity and help children to make meaning of what has happened to them.
In the music and storytelling corners we try to help children deal with emotional pain and reclaim a sense of autonomy over their lives.
