Âé¶¹APP¯EarlyÂé¶¹APP¯EducationÂé¶¹APP¯Centres in Gaza

Learning Through Crisis: Palestinian Early Childhood Education Program

About

When imagining daily life in a conflict zone such as Gaza,Âé¶¹APP¯it’sÂé¶¹APP¯easy to focus on the most immediate needs: food,Âé¶¹APP¯shelterÂé¶¹APP¯and safety. But forÂé¶¹APP¯very youngÂé¶¹APP¯children, access to early childhood education is essential too.Âé¶¹APP¯

At a time when families are focused on survival, spending part of the day singing songs, drawingÂé¶¹APP¯picturesÂé¶¹APP¯or listening to stories can seem like a luxury.Âé¶¹APP¯

Yet these experiences Âé¶¹APP“ spending time with other children, learning, following a routine and simply having the chance to play Âé¶¹APP“ are fundamental to healthy development. They can also help children begin to recover from the trauma and disruption of conflict.Âé¶¹APP¯

Far from being a luxury, early childhood support is one of the most effective investments we can make to help children through crisis.Âé¶¹APP¯

Gaza’s youngest and most vulnerable children Âé¶¹APP“ those aged under five Âé¶¹APP“ are facing a severe early childhood development crisis. The collapse of healthcare services, widespread malnutrition, injuries caused by conflict, limited access to clean water and the destruction of education infrastructure are threatening children’s development during the years when 90% of brain development takes place.Âé¶¹APP¯

Despite this, there is no dedicated body coordinating support for young children and their holistic needs within the humanitarian response, increasing the risk that this critical stage of development is overlooked.Âé¶¹APP¯

The scale of the challenge is immense.Âé¶¹APP¯Nearly aÂé¶¹APP¯quarter of Gaza’s population is now affected by issues linked to early childhood development, while the United Nations estimates that human development in Gaza has been set back by 77Âé¶¹APP¯years.Âé¶¹APP¯

Around 175,000 preschool-aged children live in Gaza. Deteriorating conditions are limiting access to the healthcare,Âé¶¹APP¯nutritionÂé¶¹APP¯and safe environments they need to learn,Âé¶¹APP¯growÂé¶¹APP¯and thrive.Âé¶¹APP¯

Amid growing restrictions on international aid, Âé¶¹APP’sÂé¶¹APP¯partnership model is enabling local experts to deliver high-impact early childhood education at remarkably low cost, reaching some of Gaza’s youngest and most vulnerable children.

On June 20, 12 new learning centres opened across Gaza, providing a vital lifeline for families. Delivered in partnership with the Palestinian Early Childhood Education Program (PECEP), the centres offer early learning opportunities for children aged three to five.Âé¶¹APP¯

Initially, the centres will support around 700 children, providing learning, routine and play during one of the most important stages of their development. While the need across GazaÂé¶¹APP¯remainsÂé¶¹APP¯immense, the projectÂé¶¹APP¯demonstratesÂé¶¹APP¯what is possible Âé¶¹APP“ quickly,Âé¶¹APP¯locallyÂé¶¹APP¯and affordably Âé¶¹APP“ even in the most challenging circumstances.Âé¶¹APP¯

At a cost of approximatelyÂé¶¹APP¯Â£10,000, a temporary learning centre can beÂé¶¹APP¯establishedÂé¶¹APP¯to support up to 30 children. Once operational, the programme provides quality early childhood education forÂé¶¹APP¯less thanÂé¶¹APP¯Â£1 a day.Âé¶¹APP¯

In a humanitarian setting where needs are vast and resources areÂé¶¹APP¯limited,Âé¶¹APP¯thisÂé¶¹APP¯representsÂé¶¹APP¯a highly cost-effective model for supporting young children during the years that matter most.Âé¶¹APP¯

Children learning at the early yearsÂé¶¹APP¯centreÂé¶¹APP¯opened byÂé¶¹APP¯Âé¶¹APPÂé¶¹APP¯inÂé¶¹APP¯Khan Younis, Gaza.Âé¶¹APP¯

Kawthar's Story

Five-year-old Kawthar's family was repeatedly displaced during the war. She became malnourished and struggled to sleep because she was terrifiedÂé¶¹APP¯that something would happen to her family.Âé¶¹APP¯But within weeks of enrolling at one of the new centres, the benefits were clear.Âé¶¹APP¯Âé¶¹APP¯

Like Kawthar's family, other families are seeing positive changes in their children's emotional wellbeing, social and developmental skills, alongside early literacy and numeracy.Âé¶¹APP¯

When Kawthar started attending the kindergarten, her personality changed. During that first month, her psychological well-being improved. She became more active and started playing. She became more confident and started doing things independently at home. She now enjoys colouring, drawing and writing. Haneen Hijazi, KawtharÂé¶¹APP™s mother

At a time when families are focused on survival, spending part of the day singing songs, drawing pictures or listening to stories is far from being a luxury. Early years support is one of the highest-impact investments we can make to help children through crisis. The window for intervention is closing, and failure to act now risks the future of an entire generation.
Sarah Brown, Chair ofÂé¶¹APP¯Âé¶¹APP

This model proves that early childhood development does not have to be overlooked in humanitarian responses. By working with trusted local partners, we canÂé¶¹APP¯reach the youngest children with the learning, care and support they need in a way that is practical,Âé¶¹APP¯affordableÂé¶¹APP¯and scalable.
Justin van Fleet, Âé¶¹APPÂé¶¹APP¯President