Against All Odds: The Work of Omar Balawi
In Gaza, where conflict often overshadows everyday life, Omar Balawi’s commitment to education stands out. Despite the challenges, he continues to teach, bringing a sense of hope to the children in his community.
Stories Alive in Gaza 2024
In 2024, Omar Balawi and other teachers from the Ministry of Education in Gaza began running Stories Alive sessions from their homes. These sessions use Stories Alive materials in the form of digital books, PowerPoint presentations, activities, picture stories, summaries, chants, and scripts to make learning more engaging.
English Geeks: A Club of Passionate Learners
Omar's English club, "English Geeks," is located in Northern Gaza and is fueled by the real enthusiasm Gaza's kids have for learning English. With nearly 16 students from grades 7, 8, and 9, the club is a lively space where kids eagerly join in, listen to English, and take part in fun, skill-building activities.
School is Where Bombs are Dropped
Omar used to hold sessions at his brother's apartment in Al Sheikh Redwan, northern Gaza, after his own home was partially destroyed. His family home, where he lived with disabled relatives, was also damaged. Tragically, his brother's apartment was bombed, killing his brother, his brother’s wife, and his niece.
Thankfully, neither Omar nor his students were there at the time, but they lost their school, books, and resources. Despite this terrible loss, Omar is determined to find a new place to keep his work going.
Teaching in the World's Most Dangerous Place
Teaching in northern Gaza is incredibly challenging, especially with the starvation crisis that has lasted over 10 months. Students often come to class with little energy, making it hard to learn. Omar deals with frequent power outages, so charging his phone and mini projector is a struggle. Without electricity, he can’t cool the room, and diseases like hepatitis spread quickly because of poor medical care and nutrition. The constant drone noises and surprise bombings only make things worse.
Innovative Teaching Techniques
Omar uses a range of creative methods to enhance his students' learning. Through stories from Stories Alive, such as "The Boy Who Cried Wolf," he develops activities to improve comprehension, writing, and retelling. His techniques include:
Un-jumbling Words: Rearranging scrambled words to form correct sentences and reinforce vocabulary.
Reading Summaries: Discussing story summaries to grasp main ideas and details.
Coloring Activities: Engaging younger students with visual tasks to connect words with images.
Memory Games: Challenging students to remember key story details to boost recall and understanding.
Online Link-Up Sessions: Organizing online sessions where volunteers read stories to students, creating an interactive learning experience.
What’s Next for Omar and His Students?
Omar is still dedicated to teaching and is working on new stories that follow the Stories Alive format. He’s developing six new stories to keep his students engaged with fresh, educational content. Omar’s strong commitment to education and his drive to offer meaningful learning experiences show the power of hope and resilience despite the tough times.
His efforts are a testament to the strength of the human spirit and the difference one person can make in the lives of others.
