In Al-Masmia Camp in South Deir Al Balah, despite all the pressing needs, the community came together and voiced serious concerns about the lack of education and recreational spaces for the children in the camp.
The community group therefore started an initiative to establish an “educational tent” in the community, where the children would be able to access educational and recreational activities. With a 5,000 USD grant, the community group were able to procure the needed materials – tent, desks, chairs, whiteboards, pencils, and more – at the local market and set up the tent which is now serving close to 400 children (and still running).
Children from the camp, as well as close by communities, are utilising the tent for educational activities and as a ‘free space’ to escape from the harsh realities they face in their daily lives.
The activities are led by volunteers in the camp who have relevant experience working with children and are also coordinated with the Ministry of Education in Ramallah to ensure that the children are offered relevant and updated curriculum aligned with the national standards.
In this way, the children will be able to continue their educational efforts despite the current crisis and find a recreational space to spend time with other children for a much-needed psychosocial relief.
