They get some comfort and relief from art as they struggle with trauma, loss and the continuing consequences of war.

Sixteen-year-old Maryam has turned to drawing as a way to escape the devastation surrounding her, spending time at an art space established at a beachside cafe in Deir el-Balah.

Her family home was destroyed in January 2024, forcing her to live with her grandmother. She has also lost relatives, friends and other people close to her during Israeli attacks on Gaza.

Maryam began attending the art space in April, using drawing not simply as a pastime but as a way to express emotions that she finds difficult to communicate verbally.

She said, talking to Al Jazeera, completing drawings gives her a sense of achievement and helps her regain motivation during difficult days. The activity has become a regular part of her life and provides moments of hope amid the destruction.

The art space was established by 35-year-old Abdullah Al-Ghafri in response to the destruction of many educational and cultural institutions across Gaza.

Al-Ghafri said the initiative aims to give children and young people a place away from the atmosphere of war where they can channel distress, interact with others and develop positive emotions.

Keeping the facility operating, however, remains difficult because of high rental expenses, prompting Al-Ghafri to seek financial support to maintain the space.

Psychologist Asil Abu Shawish said artistic activities can help children and adolescents release emotions accumulated through traumatic experiences. She explained that drawing, singing and playing instruments can provide children with a sense of control and stability, particularly when much of their environment is constantly changing.

According to Abu Shawish, art cannot eliminate the psychological effects of war, but it can provide an important coping mechanism when activities are appropriate for children’s ages and conducted with adequate support.

She said children who are withdrawn or unable to describe their emotions verbally may begin interacting with others through artistic activities.

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Music has similarly become an important outlet for children in Gaza. In Nuseirat, the Edward Said National Conservatory of Music continues organizing lessons and performances despite damage to its Gaza City facilities.

Jabr Thabet, who coordinates projects and venues for the conservatory’s Gaza branch, said teachers have continued taking musical activities to displaced communities in Nuseirat, Deir el-Balah and other areas.

The sessions allow children to learn singing and instruments while meeting other young people and experiencing moments that resemble ordinary childhood activities.

Thabet said children often arrive eager to learn and leave looking forward to returning, describing their enthusiasm as one of the most striking aspects of the program.

For the organizers, music and art serve a purpose beyond education and entertainment. They offer young Palestinians ways to express emotions, preserve creativity and maintain a sense of identity despite the destruction around them.

In a landscape where war has damaged homes, schools and cultural institutions, these artistic spaces are giving children an opportunity to create something of their own and recover small parts of the normal life they have lost.

Source: muslimnetwork.tv