In Gaza, art spaces are helping children cope with the effects of war
In Deir al-Balah and Nuseirat in the Gaza Strip, art and music classes are being held for children and teenagers amid the war. Participants can draw, sing, and play musical instruments in spaces that the organizers describe as safe, according to Al Jazeera English.
Sixteen-year-old Mariam has been living at her grandmother’s home in Deir al-Balah since her family home was bombed in January 2024. She says she lost friends, loved ones, and an uncle as a result of Israeli attacks. Al Jazeera reports that more than 73,000 Palestinians have been killed in these strikes since October 2023.
Mariam visits an art space in a café on the Deir al-Balah coast that opened in April. She said that drawing has helped her return to her favorite pastime and express on paper feelings that are difficult to put into words. According to her, every finished drawing gives her a sense of accomplishment and hope.
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The space was founded by 35-year-old Abdullah al-Ghafri. He explained that the idea arose due to a lack of spaces for children and youth following the destruction of many educational and cultural centers in Gaza. According to him, the goal of the initiative is to give participants the opportunity to step away from the atmosphere of war and destruction and channel their emotions into creative activities.
Psychologist Asil Abu-Shawish noted that drawing, singing, and playing musical instruments can help children release pent-up emotions and feel a sense of stability. At the same time, she emphasized that art is not a cure for all the psychological consequences of war, but it can be a means of emotional release with the proper support of adults.
In Nuseirat, classes are held in collaboration with the Edward Said National Conservatory of Music and the Palestinian Student Welfare Association. The conservatory’s building in Gaza City was damaged during the war, so its teachers continued their work in areas where displaced people have settled, including Nuseirat, Deir al-Balah, and Gaza City.
