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“Feeling Like a Bird in the Sky” – Summer Fun Weeks in Gaza

22 August 2016

For more than nine years, the people of Gaza have lived under a tight blockade on land, air and sea which affects many aspects of their lives. As a result, an entire generation of children in Gaza do not know life outside of the Gaza Strip and confinement; they have already lived through three armed conflicts, often resulting in the loss of family members, friends and homes.

In the coming scholastic year 2016/17, UNRWA will provide education to over 263,200 Palestine refugee children through 267 UNRWA schools located across the Gaza Strip, offering a secure and safe environment to learn, play and develop themselves, against all odds.

Since 2009, the Agency has also implemented Summer Fun Weeks (SFWs) as a continuous effort to mitigate the psychosocial impact of the dire living conditions in Gaza on children through a variety of recreational activities that help them to release stress, gain positive energy and prepare for the coming school year. The SFWs provide an important space for children in Gaza, where there are not many public recreational sites available for them to play due to overcrowding and debilitated infrastructure.

In 2016, over 165,000 UNRWA students joined SFW activities such as drawing, recycling workshops, sports, English classes and cultural activities.

UNRWA is able to mobilize resources to implement the SFWs and contribute to refugee children’s recreational and educational development thanks to the generous and persistent assistance from donors and partners. 

Twelve-year-old Omer Abu Dlaj lives in Bait Lahiya in northern Gaza. He was severely injured during the 2008 hostilities and his arm needed to be amputated. During the SFWs, UNRWA actively encourages the participation of children with disabilities into its activities and services to foster social inclusion and provide them with equal opportunities to learn and play. “I most like the trampoline; it makes me feel like a bird in the sky.”said Omer. © 2016 UNRWA Photo by Hiba KreizimThirteen-year-old Shahed al-Ajrami is an eight-grade student from Jabalia camp in northern Gaza. The SFWs show her and many other students that school does not only mean studying, but also having fun and creating new bonds and friendships. “Studying is often stressful; we students need space to release pressure and stress and we can do this through the SFWs activities such as drawing, dancing dabkah or practicing sport,” Shahed explained. © 2016 UNRWA Photo by Hiba KreizimFourteen-year-old Samah Abu Baser, a ninth-grade student, lives in Tal al-Zater in northern Gaza. “For me, the SFWs are an opportunity to play and have fun,” she said. “I don’t prefer playing computer games at home, but even if I did, there would be no electricity to do so,” she added. Without private generators, households in Gaza typically receive electricity between six to eight hours per day. © 2016 UNRWA Photo by Hiba KreizimThrough the SFWs, UNRWA provides refugee children with a safe space to practice sports, as there are very few public sports facilities in Gaza. “I have no place to play football except in the street – it is very dangerous,” commented 14-year-old Hamza Essa, a ninth-grade student who lives in Beit Lahiya. “During the SFWs, me and my friends have a place to play and charge energy, which also helps for a fresh start in the new upcoming school year.” © 2016 UNRWA Photo by Hiba KreizimEleven-year-old Amera al-Loul was introduced to her own cultural heritage through the SFWs. “I am excited to experience some of our grandparent’s traditions, such as the social ritual of the Palestinian wedding party,” said Amera. “We sing traditional songs, we laugh and we dance and this makes us happy.” © 2016 UNRWA Photo by Roshdi al-Saraj“There is no space for games, there is no electricity, and there are no safe playgrounds,” summarized 12-year-old Mohanad al-Taweel. Many families in Gaza live in poverty and cannot afford to buy toys and games for their children. “I love my school, it is like my second home. Now I made new friends and I hope to meet them again in class when the new school year starts,” he explained. © 2016 UNRWA Photo by Roshdi al-SarajThirteen-year-old Heba al-Faqawi lives in Khan Younis, southern Gaza. She joined the SFWs to develop her sports skills, especially basketball. “In our society, girls usually cannot participate in such sports activities. Also we don’t have enough space in Gaza, but during the SFWs, I feel free to play,” she said. “I go to school to study and this is often stressful, but now I can release all that stress and prepare myself for the coming school year with a fresh mind.” © 2016 UNRWA Photo by Roshdi al-Saraj

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