Under bombs, they still find colour in Gaza

In locations across Gaza, under constant bombs, children are attending the arts and crafts workshops run by the amazing artists from Shababeek for Contemporary Art. They still draw, find colour, amid the destruction in Gaza.

The children are given pens, paints, and paper and, for a moment, they can let out the constant fear to focus on imagination and creativity. Many of them draw what they have witnessed over the past year – the bombs, destroyed houses, lost loved ones. In some workshops they are encouraged to draw what they love, and what gives them hope.

Over the course of the past 13 months of war, our artist-workshop leaders have continued amid immense personal loss and challenges. As Basel El Maqosui says: “I want to preserve the children’s smiles and humanity.”

Hope amid challenges

Sadly, the past few months were particularly difficult for Basel and Maysa, two of our artist-workshop leaders currently in Deir El Balah.

Basel says:

The past two months have been very difficult. I held a workshop with about 40 children. But, we lost the colours [paints], and I’m waiting for a man to bring me some more. Maysa’s house was bombed, which also destroyed part of the colours.

In spite of the distress and destruction, his message is full of humanity and hope:

I hope, through you and with your support, that I can bring a smile to the faces of the children of Gaza. I want to preserve their smiles and humanity. Many of them have lost the head of the family, whether it be a father or a brother, and I hope we can help them continue to live.

In September, Maysa was able to reach an incredible 60 children with arts workshops. At the same time, she was going through an intensely stressful and upsetting time as her home was bombed and partially destroyed.

Many others’ homes and shelters were bombed; about 70% of the area was destroyed.

Maysa says that “the displaced only remain in the houses, approximately 30 children, because there is no place for tents for others to return to.”

Her latest update sent on a text message is heart-breaking. It tells of the deep personal loss that she is going through, as well as the extent of the destruction and death around her. It reads:

“We lost a number of children who attended my workshops. Honestly, they were the joy of the place. I used to just stand by the window and watch them play… Now there are no children, no walls, no windows. The area has been destroyed, and I lost about 80% of my supplies. We managed to clean up the art studio and use a small space inside the studio. Workshops can take place there in case it is rainy or it is not safe outside. The children came and cleaned the place, took out some brushes, colours, and paper—just a little bit—but there’s nothing in the market; we manage with what we have.”