A 23-Year-Old Teacher Brings Life and Hope to Gaza Children Amidst the War (Instagram image @doaa.qudaih2)
Having lost the essence of childhood, peace, and education, children in Gaza are those most impacted by the ongoing war. According to the latest (revised, contested by the Hamas authorities) estimates by the United Nations, more than 14,000 children have been killed since the war began 10 months ago.
Refusing to give up, Doa’a Qudaith, has taken matters into her own hands. By turning a tent in the Deir Al-Balah refugee camp into a classroom, she has stepped in to address the significant gap in educational opportunities for Palestinian children, which was caused by Israel’s war in Gaza. Beyond providing education, she is dedicated in providing a temporary escape from their harsh realities, bringing smiles and laughter to their lives despite the surrounding conflict. Doa’a named her makeshift school as ‘Peace and Freedom School’.
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Nearly 90% of Gaza’s schools have been damaged or destroyed by Israeli airstrikes. It’s been almost a year since children in Gaza were able to attend school. These children are constantly displaced, forced to move from one place to another in search of safety.
Until October 7, children in Gaza demonstrated significant success in their education, showcasing their abilities despite the challenges they faced. Their determination and zeal for learning are remarkable, with literacy rates reported to be higher than some developed countries, including Hong Kong and Singapore.
Working with these children can be challenging since they have already endured numerous hardships at such a young age.
However, Doa’a succeeded in reaching out to them. She described the classroom not as a mere place of learning, but as a sanctuary where hope and happiness are restored.
Doa’a is a passionate woman with many dreams. Before the war began, she was pursuing her passion for education, both as a teacher and a student. She was an English teacher, and was also working towards a Diploma in translation. She graduated in English Literature from Al Azhar University. Her life was filled with dreams and achievements. However, on October 7, displacement forced Doa’a to leave behind both her education and home, thrusting her into a new and uncertain reality.
She is helping to restore hope in the children of Gaza, who had lost it completely. Now, most of the children in the Peace and Freedom class aspire to become something in their lives, with some even dreaming of becoming doctors. Doa’a notes that her students possess huge amount of hope and have ambitious dreams for their future accomplishments.
Doa’a Quadaih used to share many inspiring posts on her social media account, documenting her teaching journey. Her content was well-received by her audience, helping them recognize their blessings and cultivate gratitude.
As mentioned earlier, recognizing the profound impact of education on the future of Gaza’s children, Doa’a took it upon herself to protect and preserve their right to learn. She asserted that children have an inalienable right to education and peace, emphasizing that these rights are not optional but essential.
She started this class from scratch, transforming a tent into a mini version of a school. She gathered essential supplies to create a familiar school environment, helping to restore a sense of normalcy in the minds of the children. Her brother has been a major source of motivation for her achievements, assisting her with mathematics and Arabic language.
In Palestine, many individuals, like Doa’a, are making significant contributions. Their efforts are instrumental in restoring hope among the people of Gaza.
(Sana Zubair has produced this article as part of a Timeline Internship Programme)
