Source: UN News: Sunday, April 12, 2026 00:02 AM
Every morning in Gaza, a teacher named Salwa opens the door of her makeshift learning center and gets to work. Salwa is like a safe haven for the children coming to his class amidst unstable circumstances. Their classroom is not just a place for reading and writing, but a place where children can again feel seen and understood. Tweet URL
Salva, with her calm voice and deeply sensitive attention to each child, helps children feel safe and secure in an environment of fear, loss and uncertainty. Layan, one of her students, says, “When Salwa ma’am is with us, we feel safe and she allows us to express our feelings freely.” Ahmed says, “She understands us even without speaking and lets us talk and play without any fear.” Children are able to express emotions Salwa, through social-emotional ways of learning, gives children the space to express their feelings. They help children talk openly about their fears and create space for play, reflection and routines. These are small but important steps for children whose lives have been deeply affected. For Salva, this training was not just about professional development. This experience helped her transform a temporary learning space into a meaningful place where children could once again find a sense of stability and hope. Salva’s own life is full of difficulties, she is part of the same world that her students face every day. Salva herself has been displaced by war. She is the main income earner for her family, which includes her ailing mother and her son Zain, who suffers from diabetes. Salwa, after losing her home and employment, now lives in a small tent in Gaza. She not only has the financial responsibilities of the family, but it is also her responsibility to take care of her mother and keep a constant eye on Zain’s health. Yet, she has remained steadfast. © UNOCHA/War Child Salwa’s story is an example of how, when women are supported during a crisis, the impact is felt beyond the individual. Salwa says, “I had no choice but to be strong. My strength comes from my responsibility towards my son and myself.” Salwa draws on this strength every day, between worrying about her son Zain, determining to arrange for his treatment, and caring for her mother. Zain, a sixth-grader, speaks proudly of his mother. He says, “My mother is my security… she is the one who made me strong. “Not just a source of income.” For Salwa, returning to work is not just a source of income. It helped restore her sense of dignity, supported her son’s medical care, and brought some stability back after months of turmoil. Her story is a reminder that when women receive support during a crisis, the positive impact is not limited to the individual, but extends to children, families, and the entire community. Salwa’s story reflects a broader reality in Gaza: women are not just coping with the crisis, but also supporting families. They are sustaining communities and creating space for care and continuity even in the most difficult circumstances. © UNOCHA/War Child Children feel safe only because of Salva’s presence. OPT humanitarian fund Salwa further strengthened these skills through a program run by the Teacher Creativity Center in Gaza. This program is in collaboration with the international non-governmental organization War Child and the United Nations Humanitarian Office (UNOOCHAManaged by OPT with the support of the Humanitarian Fund, this initiative provides teachers with practical tools to transform teaching and social-emotional learning experiences in crisis situations, so they can better support children experiencing war and displacement. This support has proven vital for War Child and its partners.
