Dubai: Dubai Cares has been working with ANERA (American Near East Refugee Aid) to normalise the learning and school-going process in Gaza by re-introducing reading.
To encourage children to listen to and read stories, Dubai Cares funded a preschool teacher training session on teaching children how to read.
Tahani Daloul, a preschool teacher in Gaza, said: “Children love reading as much as trees and flowers love sunlight.”
Daloul is a participant in a new initiative set to introduce storytelling in classrooms, crucial to early childhood development, Dubai Cares said. Storytelling helps to develop cognitive, emotional and social skills among children, especially in the earliest stages of life. Through visualising rich imagery and understanding narrative, children can develop their brains in a fun, interactive way. “These skills are beneficial for language and literacy development as well.”
Saud Al Mubashar, another teacher, expressed the importance of reading for children. In one classroom, she told an animated story on her knees, surrounded by children. She used voice inflection to act out different characters as they manoeuvre through scenes.
Al Mubashar said: “I’ve acquired these techniques through teacher training. Storytelling presents a chance to implant positive habits and values.”
Suzana, a young schoolgirl in Al Shati refugee camp, showed off her new reading bag that consisted of colouring books, colour pencils and storybooks to share with her family. Her mother, Heba, was recently surrounded by children to hear a story about a girl named Karma, who lives in a refugee camp like them.
Heba said: “When parents value reading to their kids, their kids will grow up to value reading as well. It also makes us feel more connected to our children as we bond through reading.”
Each night while Heba tidies up her kitchen, she recites the stories in her head, in preparation for more storytelling time with her kids. She added: “Kids may not remember all of the stories, but they will always carry a part of each story with them.”
Dubai Cares’ programme also ensured that reading activities are provided to children in an enriched learning environment. Al Shati preschool underwent major renovation through this programme. Abeer Salha, a teacher at the preschool, said: “The old classrooms were windowless, dark and smelly, with cracked walls, decayed ceiling with water leakage and old toilets. The full-scale school renovations have made a marked difference and have created child-friendly spaces that are conducive to learning.”
Now children have brand new classrooms, along with a playground, new bathrooms and kitchen space to make healthy meals. Salha added: “I am thrilled to help ignite our children’s imaginations through storytelling, in newly renovated preschools. It’s a healthy start for children of Gaza to return to a normal life.”
