Building a bridge over challenges, the story of Eliana Younis from the SDF Youth Hub

In a neighbourhood in Gaza City, a small house where she grew up, spent her childhood, and made memories that will always be with her. And after a long, harsh journey of displacement, the 21-year-old Eliana Younis returned to her home. This was not a relocation, but a revitalization.

In October 2023, Eliana was a first‑year Business Administration student (English stream) at the Islamic University. On 13 October 2023, she was forced to leave her home, marking the beginning of the first of three displacement waves. 

Leaving felt like being uprooted from everything I knew. I shut my door with a trembling heart, thinking I’d be right back—but I never was.

Eliana Younis

For six months, Eliana lived in near‑total isolation—afraid even to open her front door. Fear, shock, and silence dominated her status and intensely changed her. Each time she had to flee, she left behind a piece of herself. Yet somehow she held on to a small spark of hope in her heart.

Before the war, Eliana wasn’t very engaged in community development. Rather, she focused on her studies and academic growth, taking English and computer courses. Her standout experience was joining the TEDx Abu Hasira Street logistics team, where she first felt the power of teamwork and belonging to a group that makes an impact.

Read: Young Females at the SDF’s Youth Hub Conclude Peer Education Workshops for Displaced Girls in Gaza

But enduring a genocide taught her that passion alone isn’t enough. “I saw young people carrying their homes and families on their shoulders. That’s when a new version of Eliana emerged,”  she says.

Joining the SDF Youth Hub in Gaza was a turning point. Burdened by a year and a half of loss and pain, she was hesitant at the beginning. But she found in the capacity-building program a safe space, supportive community, and positive energy.

“On the very first day, I felt like I’d restore my own Eliana. The supportive atmosphere fueled my passion for the upcoming teamwork.” Eliana Younis

Aiming to walk the talk, Eliana launched her first initiative: “Women’s Health Day.” It wasn’t just an event, but a space to take the concepts into action”. From brainstorming to planning and execution, she and her team poured their hearts into it.

I went over every detail as if I were preparing for a huge dream—my dream.

Eliana Younis

The event broke the silence and created a safe space for girls to speak openly about sensitive topics like menstruation. Eliana remembers one moment with particular joy: when a girl named Batoul stood up and spoke in front of everyone.

“My eyes filled with tears, my heart finally rested, and I felt as though I could sleep that night with a soul‑deep contentment.”  Eliana Younis

Today, Eliana visions community development as a mission: to be an influential voice, not an echo. She wants to plant seeds of awareness and build bridges between reality and dreams. “I want to be someone whose story is seen, not just told,” she says.

“It may not be convenient at the beginning, but this place is yours, so don’t lose faith. Some people still believe in us, appreciate our passion and dreams, and will never leave us behind.”