Being courageous in Gaza

“I know that my life will never be the same again,” says Rima, 13, one of thousands of children in Gaza whose life must continue despite the death or injury of a family member during the current conflict.  

"My life will never be the same again,” says Rima, 13.

For Rima, the loss of her 20-year-old brother and 3-year-old sister, who were killed when a bomb hit the front door of their house, not only elicits emotions, it also makes her ask questions. “I ask myself every day, ‘why?’ Why were they killed? What did they do, and I cannot find an answer,” she says. “Wars are horrible, I just pray that no one would [have to] live the same way or experience a war,” she continues.

“I ask myself every day, ‘why?’ Why were they killed? What did they do, and I cannot find an answer,” says Rima, 13. 

Violence forced thousands of residents to flee from the Beit lahia neighbourhood in North Gaza; Rima’s family was among them. “[After our house was hit], we just left. There was no choice but to leave,” says her father. “[Beit Iahia] became like a ghost town. All I thought of was my family and that I needed to protect [them].” her father adds.

The loss of her brother and sister together was more than what Rima could handle or even begin to comprehend. It was especially hard when they returned to their home.

“I hated my room because it reminded me of my sister,” explains Rima. “I hated the kitchen table because I used to sit next to my brother. I even started to hate my home and everything that reminds me of them, because I could not understand why they were killed,” she adds.

Life was very hard for Rima until her friends began to return to the neighbourhood. “I just ran and started hugging them all, I missed them a lot,” she says. Rima’s healing really began, however, when World Vision’s Child Friendly Space, Ibn Khaldou, (which had been opened after the conflict in November, 2012) was re-opened. “The day the centre was reopened was the day that my heart opened again,” she says.  

“The day the centre was reopened was the day that my heart opened again,” says Rima, 13.

Rima had been a regular participant in the child Friendly Space’s psychosocial activities. After the conflict in 2012, she became a regular member of the singing group. “She has a lovely voice, full of passion, and strong, she loves singing and enjoys it a lot,” says Nihad, the singing teacher.

When Rima and her friends rejoined the activities at the Child Friendly Space, she was part of a series of debriefing sessions and was encouraged to join the theatre group where the teacher told her that she would be able express her feelings and examine a new experience in addition to singing. “I always loved singing,” she says. “But, when I started with the theatre group, I was able to speak loud, say what I wanted, be part of a group, and show my feelings. I needed this and I feel relaxed after every play,” she adds.

“I want to show other children that they have the power to overcome all the darkness and the hardness of this war. We have a heart full of love and faith and we can show this. I know that despite the loss of my brother and sister, I was blessed that I have a family here, my friends and teachers at the Child Friendly Space are my extended family where I feel much love and safety,” Rima continues.

“I feel happy when I act in a play because I express what I want to say, and I know that there is a child, a friend, a brother who will learn something from what I do,” she adds.

To date, Rima has participated in 10 plays in the Child Friendly Space, performing for other children. “I believe in what I do,” she says. “I feel happy when I act in a play because I express what I want to say, and I know that there is a child, a friend, a brother who will learn something from what I do,” she adds.

A total of 40 Child Friendly Spaces were opened as part of World Vision’s initial emergency response to address the urgent needs children in Gaza are facing. To date, approximately 4,000 children have received psychosocial support through experienced and trained staff.

World Vision Jerusalem-West Bank-Gaza continues to work through its programs to impact the lives of over 200,000 children in its 117 communities. World Vision works throughout the occupied Palestinian territory seeking to improve the livelihoods of families and children and ensure all children are cared for, protected and participating towards a brighter future.