Skateboarding provides Gaza children with joy and support in overcoming trauma amid the devastation.

In the heart of Gaza, a mobile skatepark is weaving hope through the lives of children amid the turmoil of ongoing conflict. By transforming rubble into a playground, this initiative provides not just a means of recreation but also a crucial escape from the emotional scars of war. It exemplifies the resilience of Palestinian youth as they navigate the stark realities of their daily existence while seeking moments of joy and normalcy.

A mobile skatepark moving between displacement camps in Gaza is providing rare mental health support to children trapped in one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises, where trauma and grief are pervasive. Amid the wreckage of Gaza City, where collapsed buildings and twisted concrete dominate the landscape, a group of young Palestinians has turned this destruction into an unexpected source of joy and resilience.

Since a fragile ceasefire began on October 10, skateboarding coaches have been running sessions that offer traumatized children fleeting moments of freedom and joy. Rajab al-Reifi, one of the devoted coaches, expressed, “We used to have skateparks in the Gaza Strip; this was our dream here. But unfortunately, after we finally achieved that dream and built skateparks, the war came and destroyed everything.” Despite ongoing violence, these skateboarding sessions have become a beacon of hope for Gaza’s youth.

Israeli forces have reportedly killed at least 260 Palestinians and injured 632 others since the truce began, with attacks occurring on 25 of the past 31 days. Yet the skateboarding initiative thrives in this environment of adversity, witnessing the determination of children yearning for a semblance of normalcy.

The sessions face severe challenges due to equipment shortages across Gaza, where every skateboard wheel and piece of wood is treated with utmost care. Al-Reifi frequently repairs damaged boards between sessions, recognizing that replacements are nearly impossible to obtain. A flat courtyard that survived the bombardment serves as a training ground for novices, while more experienced skaters creatively turn piles of rubble into makeshift ramps and obstacles.

Rimas Dalloul, another committed coach, strives to keep the children engaged despite the dire conditions. “We don’t have enough skateboards for everyone, and there is no protective gear,” she noted. “Their clothes are all they have to help cushion them when they fall. They do get injured sometimes, but they always come back. The desire to play is stronger than the pain.”

Among the young skaters is seven-year-old Marah Salem, who has been skating for seven months. “I come here to have fun. I don’t want to skip any sessions; I want to be consistent,” she shared. “Even during the war, I used to skateboard. I used to run away from the bombardment to skate on the streets.” Her determination mirrors the broader resilience of Gaza’s children, who have endured not only war but a long-standing struggle for normalcy.

The skateboarding sessions serve as a vital form of recreation, a temporary escape, and an opportunity to process trauma collectively. The mental health needs of Gaza’s children remain staggering, with over a million Palestinian children already identified as needing mental health services before the latest surge in conflict. The ongoing crisis has left no child untouched by its psychological effects, as mass displacement and family separations have plagued the entire young population.

As many as 17,000 children are now unaccompanied or separated from their parents, while child protection cases surged by 48 percent in September alone, according to the International Rescue Committee. For these young skaters, the sessions represent something that war has tried to take away: the simple freedom of childhood play. With their schools decimated and homes destroyed, over 658,000 school-age children have lost access to education for nearly two years.

Yet, within the ruins of their neighborhoods, these children are discovering ways to move forward. They embody the spirit of resilience—kids on skateboards, laughing and falling, getting back up, and pushing ahead through the rubble of their shattered world.

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