In the ravaged streets of Gaza, a small flame of education has refused to be extinguished. Despite the devastation wrought by two years of genocide, students and educators at the Islamic University have found ways to keep learning, even in the face of unimaginable hardship.
For many, studying became an act of defiance against the brutal occupation that sought to erase their culture and identity. For Taqwa Ahmed Al-Wawi, a 19-year-old English literature student, "studying was an escape" from the horrors around her. It was a small space of hope, where she could momentarily forget the trauma and find motivation to carry on.
But the challenges were immense. Israel's campaign of scholasticide had destroyed nearly all of Gaza's school buildings, leaving students to study in makeshift conditions. Solar energy was used to charge laptops, while recorded lectures filled the void left by absent professors. It was a desperate attempt to keep learning, despite everything.
Asseel, another student at the Islamic University, described her experience as "a battle with both genocide and procrastination." She would spend hours downloading lectures and studying offline, fueled by determination and faith in the Qur'an.
Despite the exhaustion, many students and professors have spoken out about the importance of education in supporting psychological and social endurance. Sulaiman, a professor, stressed that educators worked hard to keep in touch with students under "extremely difficult circumstances." The university's future is tied to Gaza's reconstruction, and plans are underway to rebuild classrooms and prioritize hands-on training.
But as Gaza begins its long journey towards recovery, there remains concern about the impact of the devastation on education. The destruction of libraries, laboratories, and equipment has left a void that will be difficult to fill. Millions of dollars are needed to rebuild the educational system, but funding is scarce.
For now, students like Al-Wawi continue to study in makeshift conditions, fueled by determination and resilience. As she looks towards her future as an English literature student, she knows that education will always be a source of strength and hope – no matter what challenges lie ahead.
For many, studying became an act of defiance against the brutal occupation that sought to erase their culture and identity. For Taqwa Ahmed Al-Wawi, a 19-year-old English literature student, "studying was an escape" from the horrors around her. It was a small space of hope, where she could momentarily forget the trauma and find motivation to carry on.
But the challenges were immense. Israel's campaign of scholasticide had destroyed nearly all of Gaza's school buildings, leaving students to study in makeshift conditions. Solar energy was used to charge laptops, while recorded lectures filled the void left by absent professors. It was a desperate attempt to keep learning, despite everything.
Asseel, another student at the Islamic University, described her experience as "a battle with both genocide and procrastination." She would spend hours downloading lectures and studying offline, fueled by determination and faith in the Qur'an.
Despite the exhaustion, many students and professors have spoken out about the importance of education in supporting psychological and social endurance. Sulaiman, a professor, stressed that educators worked hard to keep in touch with students under "extremely difficult circumstances." The university's future is tied to Gaza's reconstruction, and plans are underway to rebuild classrooms and prioritize hands-on training.
But as Gaza begins its long journey towards recovery, there remains concern about the impact of the devastation on education. The destruction of libraries, laboratories, and equipment has left a void that will be difficult to fill. Millions of dollars are needed to rebuild the educational system, but funding is scarce.
For now, students like Al-Wawi continue to study in makeshift conditions, fueled by determination and resilience. As she looks towards her future as an English literature student, she knows that education will always be a source of strength and hope – no matter what challenges lie ahead.
. The dedication and resilience displayed by those like Taqwa Ahmed Al-Wawi and Asseel in the face of unimaginable hardship is truly inspiring, but it's a stark reminder of the systemic failures that have led to this crisis 
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. The loss of libraries, laboratories, and equipment has resulted in a significant void that will be difficult to fill. It's essential that policymakers recognize the critical role education plays in fostering resilience and social endurance 
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. However, it also underscores the need for a more comprehensive approach to addressing the root causes of this crisis 
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The fact that they're able to keep going despite everything is a testament to their strength and determination.
The fact that there are plans to rebuild classrooms and prioritize hands-on training is a good sign, but at the same time, I'm worried about the impact of the devastation on education. I mean, millions of dollars are needed to rebuild the educational system, but funding is scarce 
The fact that students are using solar energy to charge their laptops and stuff is just crazy... on one hand, it's awesome that they're finding ways to adapt. On the other hand, I'm sure it's super tough and stressful for them. 
And what about the whole scholasticide thing? Like, shouldn't we be focusing on rebuilding schools instead of talking about education as a way to cope with trauma? 
But then again, maybe that's exactly what education is – a way to deal with trauma... or not? 
anyway back to Gaza - i mean I can imagine how hard it must be for those students to keep learning under such harsh conditions, but isn't it cool that they're finding ways to make it work? like using solar energy and all that jazz 
I feel so much empathy for these students who've been through hell on earth in Gaza! Studying has gotta be the last thing on their minds, but they're making it work because they know it's a lifeline to escape the trauma and occupation. 
But can you imagine having to study from makeshift conditions with solar energy and recorded lectures? 
And the fact that they're having to study in makeshift conditions, using solar power and downloaded lectures 
is just unacceptable... I mean, I get that it's a desperate attempt to keep learning, but shouldn't our educational system be more than that? 
. It's not just about rebuilding classrooms, we need to make sure they have access to the resources and funding they need to thrive 
? and don't even get me started on the lack of resources... I mean, I know it's not exactly easy being occupied and all, but still 
The fact that they have to study in makeshift conditions because Israel destroyed all the school buildings is just heartbreaking. And these kids are still managing to find hope and motivation in the midst of all this trauma... they're like, the real heroes here 
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. We need to support them and get funding to rebuild Gaza's educational system ASAP! 
! like i cant even imagine studying in those harsh conditions 
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