Storytelling in Displacement Camps: A psychosocial support initiative for children and adolescents
The Social Developmental Forum (SDF) launched a unique initiative called “Storytelling in Displacement Camps” for children and adolescents in Khan Younis and Deir Al-Balah, as part of continuing efforts to support displaced persons during the ongoing Israeli military operations. This initiative is part of the Together for Palestine (T4P) programme and is implemented by SDF in partnership with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and Save Youth Future Society (SYFS), and funded by the Education Above All Foundation as part of other joint initiatives.
The tales and stories for children and teenagers were narrated by the Palestinian storyteller and teacher, Banyas Abu Harb, who presented various stories, including traditional Palestinian folk tales, such as “Al Batiya” and the well-known story “Good Boy Hassan”, as well as international stories as well as stories inspired by imagination and reality.
Children’s engagement, actively listening to the storyteller
In her stories, the storyteller focused on enhancing values and morals among the children and the community. She also presented questions to the children, encouraging them to think and engage, especially in light of their displacement from education due to the ongoing Israeli military operation and destruction of schools.
This initiative is being implemented on a regular basis, in which dozens of young men and women from SDF’s volunteers participated, contributing to organizing and engaging children and implementing various games for them after the stories, as part of their efforts to help children find enjoyment and alleviate stress.
The children’s engagement during the storytelling was notable and remarkable, who paid careful attention to the details of each story. They also responded impressively to questions after each story, as well as shedding light on their own reality through these stories.. In the story “Good Boy Hassan” which included a magic invisibility cap, the storyteller asked the children if they got this hat, where they would go. All of them answered unanimously, “To Gaza, to north Gaza.”
In some of the story details, I deliberately focused on stories concerned with aspects of children’s lives and their daily suffering during this Israeli military operation, such as stories about feeling homesick and other stories that talk about children’s wishes, as they have lost many of their wishes and dreams during this Israeli military operation.
Storyteller Banyas Abu Harb
SDF Project Coordinator Hadeel Abu Zeid explained, “This initiative is a continuation of SDF’s work aimed at supporting the steadfastness of Gaza’s people in light of the current circumstances. Children are an important group that SDF focuses on and tries to instill hope in, trying to compensate for everything they have lost during this Israeli military aggression.”
The initiative was remarkable and also very important. The storyteller’s style attracted the children’s attention, and the atmosphere created allowed children to express their energy and laughter freely, and it even helped the young volunteers.
Alaa Sharaf, SDF Youth Network members participating in the initiative, said,