In Gaza, the Circle of Hope Program Helps Children Heal

Childhood doesn’t pause for war. But in Gaza, for hundreds of thousands of children, it's being stolen — one school closure, one loss, one sleepless night at a time.

The Crisis Facing Children in Gaza

Over the past four years, conflict has torn children from their homes, left them without enough food or clean water, and forced them to live in unsafe conditions. Many have spent long stretches out of school, putting over 600,000 children at risk of falling behind in their education.

Today, nearly 88% of school buildings in Gaza have been damaged or destroyed. For children, it’s not just classrooms that are lost, but the safety, routine, and sense of possibility that come with them.

The toll it has taken on their bodies and minds is heavy.

Across Gaza, almost every child is experiencing anxiety, trauma, and emotional distress. Without safe ways to process what they’re going through, these experiences can have lasting impacts on how children grow, learn, and see the world — especially without the right support.

Children shouldn’t have to wait for stability to begin healing or learning. Safe spaces, familiar routines, opportunities to learn, and the chance to play aren't extras. They're essential to helping children reclaim their childhood.

What The Circle Of Hope Program Does

Launched in 2025 by Right To Play and the AFAS Foundation, the Circle of Hope program supports children aged 5 to 12 living in shelters and temporary settlements across Gaza.  Working alongside the Tamer Institute for Community Education, we create safe, structured environments where children can learn, heal, and rebuild a sense of normalcy. We also actively engage parents and caregivers with dedicated sessions to help them support their children through stress, grief, and uncertainty.

Through the program, children receive:

This is what education in emergencies looks like — making sure children can keep learning, even in the midst of crisis.

Why Play Matters In A Crisis

When a child has lived through conflict, displacement, or loss, they need ways to make sense of what’s happened — even if they don’t have the words for it yet.

Play is how children do that. Not just because it's fun — though it is — but because it's how children can make sense of a world that suddenly feels confusing or out of control.

Imagine a child who has just arrived at a displacement camp. Everything is unfamiliar. Their home is gone. There’s so much uncertainty. But knowing that every morning starts with play gives them something steady to hold onto — a predictable part of their day. That sense of routine creates a small but powerful feeling of safety that opens the door to healing.

Through play, children begin to get back what crisis takes away. They practice feeling safe again. They rebuild trust in others. They learn and build skills. They remember who they are outside of what happened to them. And when parents and caregivers are part of that process, the whole family starts to heal, not just the child.

Play is what childhood is for — and in a crisis, it may be one of the most powerful ways to help children rebuild their futures.

Our Impact

Since its launch, the Circle of Hope program has:

• Reached 1,108 children with safe places to learn and play
• Provided 300 parents and caregivers with sessions focused on their well-being and support for their children
• Established 5 temporary learning spaces
• Trained 28 facilitators in play-based learning, child protection, and inclusion

How You Can Support Our Work In Gaza And The West Bank

Programs like Circle of Hope show what’s possible when children experiencing crisis have safe spaces to learn, play, and recover.

With your support, we can continue bringing this kind of support to children across Gaza and the West Bank who need it most.

The Circle of Hope project in Gaza is funded by the AFAS Foundation.