HebaWhile reviewing the videos of the @amalinitiative Storytelling in English program applicants, I saw things that will stay with me forever. I watched people inside Gaza, recording their videos in small displacement tents or in front of walls marked by many bullet holes. Around them were the shouts of children, the noise of crowded life under war. (1/3)
They do not want just to survive; they want to learn and grow. They are pushing themselves to study on their own, using whatever they can find. They dream of a future where they can use this language to speak freely, open doors to new worlds, and create better chances for themselves.
Seeing their determination left me feeling humbled, unsettled, and ashamed of how often we hold back despite having so many advantages. (2/3)
Their courage forced me to ask: What’s our excuse for giving up so easily? If they can show such strength and hope amid living in a war, how can we fail to push ourselves forward? The people of Gaza remind us that dreams can still bloom even in the toughest places on Earth. They show us that we can learn, work, hope, and plan for the future, no matter how dark our situation may seem. (3/3)