In Egypt's North Sinai, a Palestinian teacher named Hadeel Zourob has established the region's only Palestinian school to educate dozens of displaced Gazan children who fled the ongoing conflict. The initiative provides a vital educational sanctuary for children uprooted by the war between Israel and Hamas.
The students are among hundreds of Palestinian children who have found refuge in El-Arish, a coastal city near the Gaza border, following the war that began in October 2023. Zourob, herself displaced, recognized the critical need for education among these children and decided to create a dedicated learning center. She stated, "They fled to Egypt and found themselves here without schools or education. So I decided to establish an educational centre for them."
Zourob, who relocated to El-Arish with her family six months into the war, collaborated with other displaced Palestinian teachers. Initially operating from a rented space, their initiative has evolved into a free school serving nearly 400 students aged six to 18, significantly expanding from its initial enrollment of around 150 students. The Misr El Kheir Foundation, a prominent Egyptian charity, now supports the school's operational costs and educational supplies.
The school currently operates as the sole Palestinian educational institution in North Sinai, a region that has faced significant security challenges and economic marginalization. Within the school, children participate in morning assemblies, engage with lessons based on the Palestinian curriculum, and engage in creative activities, fostering a sense of normalcy and hope amidst their displacement. Some students are receiving ongoing medical treatment for war-related injuries.
"We hope they can achieve their dreams despite the difficult and tragic conditions we are living through outside Gaza," commented Palestinian mother Ons Shehta. The establishment of this school is particularly critical as the education system in Gaza has been severely damaged, with a large majority of schools reported as destroyed or damaged, potentially leading to a "lost generation" of children lacking consistent education.
Teachers at the school emphasize its role in providing not only academic instruction but also psychological support and a sense of community. Teacher Hamied Abu Daher explained, "We are working together as a team to make up for what the students missed and immerse them in the school environment. When they eventually return to Gaza, the school atmosphere won't feel strange to them. They will still have that experience and spirit of school life." UNICEF estimates that over 14,000 Palestinian school-aged children have been displaced to Egypt since the war commenced.
