Khan Yunis, Palestine - September 08, 2024

Bombings, displacement, and the ever-looming specter of death have not deterred Palestinian children from pursuing their education, with some continuing to learn in a makeshift "tent school" in Al-Mawasi, west of Khan Younis in central Gaza.

On what was supposed to be a normal school day, 12-year-old Fatima packed up everything she needed for class, stepped out the temporary shelter that she had to call home for many months, walked on the streets strewn with mounds of rubble and lined by ravaged buildings, and reached a tent which was used by a local female teacher to educate over 200 children from the area.

Alaa Abu Mustafa, the Palestinian teacher, established the "tent school" so that all these school-aged children can forget for a while what the conflict has did to them and find a little solace in learning.

Although the chance of getting back to teach offers some joy, Mustafa said they have to endure a harsh environment to get by each day as much as they can.

"Things would be quite different if we are in a normal school. There would be large blackboards, pencils, desks, chairs, and fans. But in this classroom, we have to endure hot weather. Since there aren't enough seats, the students have to write on their laps. The blackboard is very small, and we also lack stationery and books, because most students have burnt their books for cooking. This has been the second consecutive school year since the students were deprived of the most basic educational opportunity," said the teacher.

Fatima, a fifth-grader, and her family now live in the so-called "humanitarian zone" in the Al-Mawasi area. The current Palestinian-Israeli conflict has deprived her of school life for nearly a year. And now she often finds herself struggling to remember what her old school looked like.

Thanks to the "tent school", she resumed education. Every morning, she packs her schoolbag, navigates the streets scattered with ruins and rubble, and enters the tent erected among the debris.

"I miss school. Normally at this time, I would be preparing for school and buying stationery. It makes me sad that we can't study at all. This feeling is overwhelming. I want to buy a schoolbag, stationery and books, wake up at six o'clock in the morning, and go to school. But now, the Israeli army has robbed us the right to do anything. We can't go to school or anywhere else," said Fatima.

Fatima expressed her determination to continue her studies, even if it means risking her life to attend classes.

"Most students in the world can go to school safely, but we can only come to this 'tent school' amid the bombardments. But even so, we will come to the tent school to study. We hope to continue our student life," said the girl.

Mustafa yearned for the end of the war and the return of peace. She dreamed of a time when children could attend school without fear, and enjoy the simple joys of life.

"Most students in the world can go to school safely, but we can only come to this 'tent school' amid the bombardments. But even so, we will keep coming to the 'tent school' in the hope of continuing with our studies," she said.

Israeli bombardments and ground offensive have damaged or wiped out almost all the school buildings in Gaza since Oct 7.

Most of the 2.2 million Palestinians living in the strip have been driven from their homes, with children disproportionately wearing the scars of the war.

SHOTLIST:
Khan Younis, Gaza Strip - Sept 8, 2024
1. Various of 12-year-old girl Fatima preparing for class;
2. Various of Fatima heading for class;
3. Various of class in progress inside tent;
4. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Alaa Abu Mustafa, teacher (partially overlaid with shot 5/ending with shot 6):
"Things would be quite different if we are in a normal school. There would be large blackboards, pencils, desks, chairs, and fans. But in this classroom, we have to endure hot weather. Since there aren't enough seats, the students have to write on their laps. The blackboard is very small, and we also lack stationery and books, because most students have burnt their books for cooking. This has been the second consecutive school year since the students were deprived of the most basic educational opportunity.";
[SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE]
5. Various of students writing on their laps;
[SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE]
6. Various of class in progress;
7. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Fatima, student (no full name given) (partially overlaid with shot 8):
"I miss school. Normally at this time, I would be preparing for school and buying stationery. It makes me sad that we can't study at all. This feeling is overwhelming. I want to buy a schoolbag, stationery and books, wake up at six o'clock in the morning, and go to school. But now, the Israeli army has robbed us the right to do anything. We can't go to school or anywhere else.";
[SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE]
8. Various of Fatima having class;
[SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE]
9. Various of Fatima having class;
10. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Fatima, student (no full name given) (starting with shot 9/ending with shot 11):
"Most students in the world can go to school safely, but we can only come to this 'tent school' amid the bombardments. But even so, we will keep coming to the 'tent school' in the hope of continuing with our studies.";
11. Makeshift school;
12. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Alaa Abu Mustafa, teacher (ending with shot 13):
"I want to tell the world that this war must end and we should return to our normal life, our schools, our sports fields, and our everyday activities. We miss all these things. Simple as they are, they mean the world to us.";
13. Makeshift school;
14. Various of class in progress.

[Restrictions: No access Chinese mainland]