Theirworld

Image credit: Ajyal Foundation

Healing Through Learning, with Ajyal Foundation

A safe place to learn

About

Context

Since the start of the conflict, the collapse of essential healthcare, education and safety systems has left over half a million individuals facing early childhood development challenges. The immediate physical, emotional and cognitive development of these children is under threat and their long-term futures are at risk.

About the project

In Gaza, children have faced unimaginable loss. Theirworld’s partnership with the Ajyal Foundation is providing safe places to learn through Teaching with Care, a project that supports both education and the emotional wellbeing of children affected by trauma. This new approach integrates emotional healing into everyday subjects like Arabic and Maths, helping children learn while gently rebuilding their sense of safety. Teachers are trained to recognise trauma and create supportive classrooms using techniques such as storytelling, movement and peer collaboration.

By combining learning with psychosocial support, Ajyal and Theirworld show that education in emergencies can do far more than teach. It can restore hope, rebuild trust and help children believe in their future again.

Impact

With Theirworld’s support, teachers in Gaza are being trained in trauma-sensitive methods, and more than 200 students are taking part in a new classroom approach that combines emotional wellbeing with core learning; the project will strengthen teacher capacity, improve children’s resilience and engagement, and create a low-cost, open-access tool that can be used to support learners in other conflict-affected regions.

Ajyal Foundation

Established: 2019

Location: Headquartered in Oxford, United Kingdom, with operations in Gaza and the wider Middle East

About:
Ajyal Foundation for Education is a UK-registered charity founded by Palestinian and British educators, psychologists, and development experts. The word Ajyal means “generations” in Arabic, reflecting their mission to rebuild education and mental health systems for children affected by war and displacement.

Ajyal specialises in trauma-informed education, mental health support, and research-based interventions that bridge the gap between healing and learning. Their programmes integrate emotional support into teaching practice, ensuring that education in crisis contexts helps both the mind and the heart.

Resources

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