Gaza: The Power of Play

Children & Youth

Mar 21

Who: SOS Children’s Villages Gaza

What: Support to the children in Gaza

Three-year-old Salam* lost her parents in a bombardment on her house in Khan Yunis. She was pulled from under the rubble and taken to a hospital in Deir al Balah, where she was cared for by a doctor and his sister for three weeks.

SOS Children’s Village Rafah staff alongside psychologist, arrived at a hospital in Deir al Balah to bring an unaccompanied three-year-old girl back to the Village. But when they arrived, Salam was continuously crying and screaming and refused to leave.

She had developed such a strong attachment to the doctor and his sister, who had both shown so much kindness, that she didn’t want to leave the hospital.

“The girl is very smart and alert. She is only three years old but she understands exactly what happens around her. When I first met her, she told me: “say whatever you want to say, but do not say you are going to take me to my parents. I saw them dying in front of my eyes.”

“I could not believe what she said, I burst out crying” the SOS Children´s Villages Psychologist recalls. “I was only trying to calm her down and reassure to her that she is safe now.”

SOS Children’s Villages staff took Salam to the Village in Rafah, where they care for over 70 children, without parental care, in family-like environments.

On the second day, the psychologist was able to find her aunt and uncle and bring them to the Village to see her. After seeing her relatives, she felt safer and stopped crying. But she remained very nervous and refused to eat or talk.

Healing journey

Over many days, and with a lot of persistence and attention, psychologist introduced a new toy to Salam, one that she could play with in the sand.

“I looked in the whole market for this sand toy, I didn’t think I’d be able to find it. The toy helped her build shapes she likes and it made her feel comfortable”.

Slowly, Salam was able to overcome her barriers and foster new friendships.

The Village environment, coupled with structured play and thoughtful interventions, became crucial in her healing journey. Structured Play is one of the coping strategies the psychologist tried to help the girl. He started purposefully asking other children to play with her, to break the barriers between her and other children.

After weeks of consistent support, Salam’s progress was evident.

There’s still a long way to go for Salam, but staff at SOS Children’s Villages will be with her every step of the way.

*Names changed to protect the privacy of those involved.