Learning, play and community in Gaza: all in Hussam's Pass the Parcel game
Hussam’s Stories Alive Club play a variation on Pass the Parcel to practise introducing themselves
There were 3 things that really struck me when I watched this video of the incredible work of teacher Hussam M Al-Dalou; learning, community and play.
Intergenerational Learning
The first was the value of intergenerational learning in a crisis situation. Teachers have long known that learning is multi-directional. Our students learn from us but they also learn with us and from each other if we are open to the idea of students as teachers. How much more will they learn if their teachers and guides are of different ages and different educational levels? It’s a situation where learning becomes truly inclusive and each member of the group plays a valuable role.
Community
Community in Gaza has been put sorely to the test as internet connection has been severed, and people have been confined to their houses and internally displaced as a result of bombing and other attacks. Contact with family, friends and neighbours has been greatly reduced and sometimes lost, and the terrible anxiety of separation added to the suffering of Gazans. The Stories Alive clubs are providing a hub for community activities, in people’s homes, in tents, and in any other available spaces. As a student in another Hands Up session observed yesterday “Being together in hard times helps us to be a good human, be good friends for everybody”.
Play
“Play heals through learning, life skills & psychosocial well-being. Play is not just a right but a necessity.” - Save the Children International.
Today, June 11, is the first ever International day of Play. The crucial element of play, of surprise and fun you can see in the video spoke to me immediately. Who needs play more than children in Gaza right now?
Play allows its players a temporary respite from the world immediately surrounding them, and introduces elements of spontaneity and creativity. But it isn’t only children who need it. When I think of the situation in Gaza, my mind also goes to the adults who bear the burden of protecting their family members, not just physically but emotionally and psychologically. Hussam’s Stories Alive club allows for moments of respite from the exhaustion of war for children and adults alike.
And if you’ve never really considered play as a right, please watch the video of Sarah, a student in Sahar Salha’s We Care Drama Club, to find out exactly how important it is to children in Gaza.
My rights in my hand, drawn by Sarah, a student in Sahar Salha’s We Care Drama Club, Gaza 2024