“Safe Learning Space (SLS)”: An Interactive Cultural Plattform for Children and Youth in Displacement Camps

Due to the ongoing war, children and youth lack access to safe spaces. The SLS initiative was launched by the Social Developmental Forum (SDF), led by young volunteers, across several displacement camps in the Gaza Strip.

This initiative aims to provide a safe space for informal education and initial psychological support activities for children and adolescents. Two spaces were established: one in the middle of the Gaza Strip and the other in Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip.

A Safe Interactive Learning Space:

SLSs hosted various youth-led extracurricular activities targeting children and adolescents. These activities included traditional dabkeh dance, informal education, entertainment, singing, and meaningful competitions.

“This initiative was launched to provide children and youth with a safe space to discharge imposed war routine of displacement tasks like fetching water and cleaning. SLS gives children the space to interact, play, enjoy, and learn new skills.”

Hadeel Abu Zaid, Social Developmental Forum (SDF) – Project Manager

Dabkeh Dance and Entertainment

Traditional Dabkeh is one of the skills and activities introduced in SLS to children in displacement camps. It is an integral Palestinian national heritage. It also serves as a way to support children’s mental health through physical activity in a warm, safe space.

This initiative was led by SDF’s youth network member, Mohammad Al-Huwayhi, who provided interactive sessions to children in “Together For Palestine 3” camp. Huwayhi devoted traditional Palestinian songs, over several training days. He noted that the initiative is an excellent opportunity to teach dabkeh to children to foster cultural heritage, in light of their lack of exposure to Palestinian folk culture amid the genocidal war for over a year.

Throughout the initiative, children enthusiastically engaged in various training lessons. Having previously spent their days sitting under the scorching sun, fetching water, or standing in long food distribution queues, they had a different experience at SLS. 

This initiative is part of a series of community efforts under the “Reclaiming Hope for Palestinians” project, funded by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and Education Above All (EAA), led by the dynamic SDF’s Youth Network.