For six months, Human Concern International (HCI), together with its partner, have quietly walked alongside some of Gaza’s most traumatized families. The Hope and Healing intervention was born out of a simple yet powerful need to help children cope in a world shattered by over 578 days of relentless war. With homes lost, schools reduced to rubble and normalcy a distant memory, 382 families and children found not a cure, but a lifeline. Through structured mental health support, joyful recreational activities, and critical aid, hope and healing became a rare space where children could simply breathe, play, and begin to process the unthinkable: the loss of losing their loved ones.
This war has taken almost everything from Ahmad. He lost his mother. His father. His little brother, the one he used to play with every day. The pain was too much, and Ahmad spent months in silence and isolation.
When asked whether the psychosocial support helped him, Ahmad replied:
“I play so I don’t feel what I’ve lost.” – Ahmad, from Gaza
The project focused on delivering mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) to children across three key shelters in southern Gaza: Al Qastal, Al Insan and Al Yaqeen. The team, in partnership with HCI, initiated targeted therapy using a mother-child manual for 25 children aged 8 to 14, while broader recreational sessions were organized for many more.
One mother, Hanan, shared how her son, Jaber, finally received the emotional care he desperately needed to cope with trauma. “This is the first time since the war started my child has received such respect and care and an opportunity to play,” she said. “They didn’t just see them as numbers.”
Special recreational events, like the one held during Eid, created unforgettable memories for children. Mohammed, a father of four, recalled how this single event uplifted an entire tent community in Deir Al Balah. “My kid still treasures the gift bag he received,” he said.
These efforts were supplemented with critical supplies, including insulin for diabetic children like Farah, baby formula, diapers, and dignity kits for mothers. Despite inflation and market scarcity, HCI remained adaptable, building trust within the community it serves.
Beyond psychosocial care, the project introduced solar power systems in makeshift shelters like Yafa camp. These provided essential electricity for charging phones, running medical devices, and offering a glimpse of normalcy. Haneen Qishawi, a single mother displaced 13 times, praised the dignity and consistency of HCI’s approach: “This was the only time I felt truly supported during our long journey.”
This intervention brought layered and tangible benefits:
In every shared story, from Ahmad as a child to Hanan’s trauma-stricken son to Haneen’s displaced family, one message was clear: support must continue. “Our children need more than food,” said Hanan. “They need joy, connection, and the chance to just be kids again.”
This project demonstrates how healing is possible even in the harshest settings when compassion, creativity and respect are at the center of response. By blending immediate emotional aid with ongoing community support, Hope and Healing planted seeds of resilience that continue to grow despite the rubble.
Published:
May 22, 2025
Author:
Soniya Warraich, Senior Programs Officer, Human Concern International
Categories:
SHARE THIS POST:
