September 2009
The war in Gaza in the early 2009 had a devastating impact on children and youth throughout Gaza. Tens of thousands of homes and buildings were damaged or destroyed and many families lost any source of income they may have had prior to the latest conflict. The worry of carrying and providing for the family weighs heavily on the adults and leaves little room and opportunity for the essential part of childhood – play.
The USAID funded Local Democratic Reform Program (LDR), implemented by CHF, provided such opportunities to almost 1,000 children throughout Gaza this summer. Within the cadre of its civic engagement activities, CHF’s Gaza office formulated governance-themed day camps run by local NGOs for children aged 8-15. The camps provided a structured, but relaxed environment in community settings in which the children could explore and practice through play themes around children’s rights, stewardship of the environment, and civic participation. The LDR program implemented similar camps across the West Bank as well.
The children explored these themes through art. They drew imagined environments, created songs, and wrote plays which allowed them to practice negotiating and conflict resolution skills. After learning about the different ways in which children and adults can participate in their local government, the children had an opportunity to tour their municipal buildings and meet with the Mayors of LDR’s partner municipalities.
The smiles and laughter that spread across the faces of the children and adults, who were involved in the activities, are testament to how simply providing a safe and playful environment for children can open up doors to new ideas and creativity.
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