NAGHAM KARAJEH

Gaza- Amid destruction in Gaza, Palestinians have left no stone unturned in their search for hope. Having lost their loved ones and neighbors, they struggle with diseases and famine while trying to rebuild a life.

Thousands of children have been orphaned by the 15-month Israel’s war on the Gaza Strip. “Al-Wafaa” is a village opened for orphans, showing how hope and solidarity flourish in the war-torn Gaza Strip. The village provides shelter, psychological and social support to children, who have lost one or both parents in the enclave.

‘I saw how they lost everything overnight’

Wafaa Abu Jalala opened the village to help orphans. “The idea of opening a village for orphaned children was a response to the tragic reality of children who lost everything overnight,” she told NuJINHA. “I saw how children lost their parents, homes and dreams overnight. I saw how their innocence turned into fear, silence, and loneliness. I carried out activities in shelter centers to provide psychological support to children. When I saw the positive impact of those activities, I felt that I should expand the initiative to include the most vulnerable and affected group in society: orphans having no support and shelter.”

To get children out of the gloom of war…

Although Wafaa Abu Jalala faced many challenges in finding materials for children, she never gave up and opened the village. “In the village, we work for children to regain their lost innocence, freedom to play and the warmth of a family,” she said. “The village is an idea inspired by the world of the Smurfs to get children out of the gloom of war.”

Currently, there are about 200 girls and boys receiving education in the village. “Orphaned children need not only food and shelter, but also psychological support and education to have a better future. The village provides various activities and psychological support to children. Experts help children cope with feelings of fear and anxiety and express their feelings in a healthy way. Children suffering from trauma need compassion and special rehabilitation programs to rebuild their personalities.”

‘As Palestinian women, we stand firm’

In her speech, Wafaa Abu Jalala also drew attention to the challenges faced by Palestinian women. “Palestinian women are not only survivors of the war but also pillars of rebuilding society.  We do not wait for conditions to improve. Instead, we create our own opportunities from scratch. As Palestinian women, we stand firm despite all the challenges and obstacles. We hold on to life with all our strength and teach our children how to get up after every fall because this is the only way to survive.”

‘We need the support of the local and international community’

Despite the ongoing challenges, Wafaa Abu Jalala wants to open more villages across the Gaza Strip to support all orphaned children. “These children deserve to enjoy their childhood, to dream, to learn and to feel that they are still part of this world. These children are our future and if we do not support them now, we will lose a generation. The Al-Wafaa village is just a beginning. We need the support of the local and international community to support children. The Al-Wafaa village is a small island for orphaned children in Gaza.”