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UNRWA Concludes the 2022 Summer Fun Weeks

28 July 2022

Some 120,000 children in Gaza, including children with disabilities, were able to enjoy themselves during the Summer Fun Weeks (SFWs) organized by UNRWA between 25 June and 27 July 2022 at 83 locations across the coastal enclave. The SFWs concluded with a spectacular closing ceremony held at the Gaza Training Centre, allowing some of the children to showcase the activities they engaged in. 

Most of these children and  their families have been heavily affected by 15 years of blockade, the impact of COVID-19, as well as widespread poverty and the lack of recreational opportunities. Following the May 2021 hostilities in the Gaza Strip, and based on a survey conducted by UNRWA, the incidence of war-related traumata increased, leaving about 42 per cent of surveyed UNRWA first grade school children in Gaza in need of psychosocial support. Even nine months later, 35 per cent of these children were still suffering from reactions to trauma. The Gaza SFWs are one of the Agency’s responses and interventions to help alleviate the psychological effects of repeated cycles of conflict and the devastating living conditions resulting from the blockade. 

The SFWs do not only provide Palestine refugee children with a protective environment at UNRWA schools to play, but they also offer some Gaza youth temporary work opportunities. SFWs 2022 offer 2,750 short-term job opportunities with UNRWA to registered refugees through its Job Creation Programme.

Palestine refugee children from Gaza perform at the Gaza Training Centre during the closing ceremony of the Gaza Summer Fun Weeks (SFWs) on 27 July 2022. The SFWs are one of the Agency’s main interventions to help alleviate the psychological effects of repeated cycles of conflict and the devastating living conditions resulting from 15 years of blockade. The celebration included a sampling of the activities that were carried out during the summer SFWs, including greening, recycling, sports, painting, crafts, English club, student parliament activity, choir and Dabkeh dancing, as shown in the photograph. © 2022 UNRWA Photo by Mohammed HinnawiIn his opening remarks at the closing ceremony of the month-long Gaza SFW, the Director of UNRWA Affairs in Gaza, Tom White, said: “Children in Gaza are often the hardest hit by the economic blockade and recent conflicts. It is therefore so important to provide safe and protected spaces for children to have fun.” He added, “This is the aim of SFWs and as UNRWA we are deeply committed to this program. The objective of SFW is to strengthen the well-being of children, alleviate stress, and promote positive coping mechanisms with focus on psychosocial support.” © 2022 UNRWA Photo by Mohammed HinnawiSome 120,000 young Palestine refugee children across Gaza were able to participate in the Gaza SFWs organized by UNRWA this summer. Over the past 15 years, #Gaza and its 2.1 million inhabitants – 40 per cent of whom are under the age of 15 – have been under blockade. Following the May 2021 hostilities in the Gaza Strip, and based on a survey conducted by UNRWA, the incidence of war-related traumata increased, leaving about 42 per cent of surveyed UNRWA first grade school children in Gaza in need of psychosocial support. During the SFWs, youngsters were able to enjoy physical sports activities, as well as engage in art activities, learning a language and play acting. © 2022 UNRWA Photo by Mohammed HinnawiChoir singing was one of the many activities Palestine refugee students in Gaza could join during the Gaza SFWs organized by UNRWA during four weeks this summer. Designed to relieve stress, they also promote the social values of leadership, respect and cooperation, and develop skills. © 2022 UNRWA Photo by Mohammed Hinnawi During the Gaza SFWs, some 120,000 young Palestine refugees seeking respite from the pressure of life in Gaza get a chance to play sports in the safe environment of any one of 83 locations around the coastal enclave. These young boys are enjoying a round on their bouncy balls. These types of activities help the children release psychological stress that has built up as a consequence of 15 years of blockade and repeated cycles of violence. © 2022 UNRWA Photo by Mohammed Hinnawi Play acting was one of the activities that children in Gaza could join during the SFWs organized by UNRWA during four weeks in summer. These children are acting out a play as part of the closing ceremony to the SFWs held at the Gaza Training Centre on 27 July 2022. © 2022 Photo by Mohammed HinnawiA group of young Palestine refugee girls participates in Dabkeh dancing during the closing ceremony of the Gaza SFWs. UNRWA is committed to finding appropriate solutions to mitigate the psychological effects of recurrent conflicts on children by integrating them in systematic and structured activities that help them overcome traumata. © 2022 UNRWA Photo by Mohammed HinnawiTom White (centre), the Director of UNRWA Affairs in Gaza, joined the celebrations during the Gaza SFWs along with a number of senior UNRWA staff. In this photo he is seen congratulating the winners of the SFWs sports contest. © 2022 UNRWA Photo by Mohammed Hinnawi.

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