In cooperation with the Palestinian Cultural Club, Urjouha organized a series of interactive and supportive activities for children forcibly displaced from South Lebanon, the Southern Suburbs of Beirut (Dahiyah), and Palestine. This initiative is part of an ongoing effort to provide safe spaces that help children express themselves, interact, and find a sense of stability amid the conditions of the Israeli war on Lebanon and displacement.

The activities included storytelling sessions, drawing, interactive play, arts and crafts, and awareness-raising workshops, alongside sessions focused on connection to nature, the environment, and cultural identity. The children also participated in activities aimed at promoting awareness of personal hygiene and public health, while expressing their feelings and experiences in safe, age-appropriate ways.

The sessions sought to provide psychosocial support for the children, strengthening their sense of safety, belonging, and continuity. This was achieved by connecting them with familiar elements from their environment and collective memory, and by encouraging them to interact, participate, and discover their capabilities in supportive and secure environments.

Among the activities organized were:

• Storytelling and drawing sessions at the Mar Elias – Btina School.
• An interactive activity for children at the New Mar Elias School in Beirut.
• A personal hygiene awareness activity with forcibly displaced children.
• An activity about the spring season, focusing on identifying local plants and flowers.
• An olive tree planting activity at the Palestinian Cultural Club.

Rim Othman, Urjouha Coordinator

Through these activities and others, Urjouha seeks to emphasize the importance of play, discovery, and expression as fundamental needs for children, particularly during times of crisis and instability. These efforts play a vital role in supporting children’s psychosocial well-being and enhancing their capacity for adaptation and resilience.