“School is not just a place, it is a source of hope,” Osaid, 16

“For us, school is not just a place, it is a source of hope” says Osaid, 16. Along with several other Palestinian children, he reminded the participants of the 2025 European Humanitarian Forum (EHF) about how the current conflict has disrupted their education, mental health, and sense of normalcy. But they also spoke of how education programming, when combined with psychosocial support and protection, can turn schools in places of safety, hope, and healing. 

Their voices remind us that every child deserves access to safe, supportive learning environments, no matter the circumstances. Their testimonies were shared during an event on Integrated Approaches to Education in Times of Crisis. The European Humanitarian Forum is a global platform organized by the European Commission and humanitarian partners, leaders, practitioners, and affected communities to discuss how to better respond to today’s most urgent crises.