We work with local partners across East Jerusalem, the West Bank, Gaza, and Lebanon to create and support play opportunities for Palestinian children. Our partners bring a wealth of lived experience to our projects, ensuring they fit the needs and realities of the children we work with.
Current Projects
Child Smile
Child Smile uses drama workshops as creative and emotional outlets for children in Gaza, strengthening their coping skills with trauma, loss, and violence.
Child Smile has just completed the first month of a three-month project funded by Palestine Play Projects, already reaching 400 children across five different areas of Gaza. Each child takes part in seven sessions, each lasting two and a half hours.
The workshops provide psychosocial support through drama and the innovative “Magic Glove” approach, helping children recognise emotions such as fear, anger, sadness and joy — and equipping them with strategies to cope.
The impact has been so encouraging that we are now exploring how to expand the programme to reach even more children.
But we cannot do this without you.
Be the reason a child smiles.
“I joined the Magic Glove workshop and hope it comes back again. I learned many things, like the Helping Hand: What is happening? What are your feelings? What are your negative thoughts? What are your positive thoughts? What can you do to feel better? Who can help you? I learned the difference between what I can control and what I cannot. I learned not to bottle up my feelings and not to hold back my tears. ”
“This was one of the best workshops my children ever joined. They were very excited and happy. … I am grateful we live close to the centre so my kids can attend. I notice big differences compared to other children who don’t have access to such workshops. My children grew up too fast because of the war, and I believe such workshops are very suitable for their current reality.”
The Culture and Free Thought Association (CFTA) aims to provide children in Gaza with safe and supportive spaces to express themselves through play activities, music, and artistic creativity.
CFTA
The project is ongoing, with over 350 children, including those with disabilities, participating in artistic drawing and creative expression workshops, music and choir sessions, and recycled art and creative workshops, designed to encourage innovation, sustainability and self-expression. By engaging in structured activities, children have the opportunity to explore their emotions, develop their talents, and regain a sense of joy and normalcy.
“Music released the negative energy inside us. We started to find something beautiful to spend our time on.”
“I really loved the music workshop! I get together with my sisters and the girls from the neighbourhood in the camp, and we bring things from the kitchen and buckets, and turn them into music!
”We sing together, play, and create a nice atmosphere. All the children enjoy it with us, and we forget a lot about the bombing and the hardship of displacement.”
All children have the right to play.
Wadi Hilweh
We are now fundraising to refurbish a playground at the Wadi Hilweh Park, near Silwan in East Jerusalem. It is surrounded by residential areas, two schools, two community centres, and a kindergarten, making it easily accessible for the local community.
In addition to the playground they would love a stage for performances. Will you help us reach our target of £20,000?
Past Projects
East Jerusalem
Silwan
Though small in area, the Maada Creative Centre, in Jerusalem’s Silwan neighbourhood, is making a big impact. This vibrant community hub is dedicated to providing a safe, supportive, and nurturing space where children can thrive. We're proud to have funded their latest project—a refurbished playground that’s already bringing joy and laughter, and a safe haven, to the community's children.
The West Bank
Burin
In the West Bank village of Burin, a playground once left incomplete now stands ready to bring joy, thanks to PPP’s support. Despite the ongoing conflict, we're thrilled to announce that the play equipment, pictured left, has been successfully installed. When it is safe to do so, we look forward to adding more equipment, especially for the youngest children, so they can continue to enjoy a safe space to play and use their imagination.
Talitha Kumi
Talitha Kumi school, near Bethlehem, has over 800 students. The younger children had a place to play, but there was nothing for older students so we are pleased to have worked alongside Playgrounds for Palestine USA to provide an outdoor gym to give teenagers a place to play and improve their fitness levels. Later, we were able to add a roof to the structure, providing shelter when it rains. The playground is open to both students at the school and the surrounding Bethlehem community.
Al-Shurooq School for the Blind
This specialist playground is, we think, the first sensory playground in Palestine, replacing an old unsafe playground which was dangerous for children with little or no sight. Most of the children at the school have problems in their posture, balance and coordination and safe play helps all these things develop. All play equipment was chosen carefully to ensure safety whilst maximising enjoyment. The shade, which was added at a later date, is durable, and means the playground can be used throughout the year.
Kobar
The first playground we funded in 2018, working with Playgrounds for Palestine USA, is in the village of Kobar in the northern West Bank, 13 kilometres northwest of Ramallah. About 3500 people live there: 60% of whom are aged 15 or younger. The lack of recreational facilities, parks and open space in the village was a worry: children tended to play tag or football in the streets which endangered their lives. The village council was actively involved in installing the new playground, and has responsibility for maintaining it.
Gaza
Bani Suhaila
In collaboration with PfP in America and the Bani Suhaila community, we proudly supported the creation of a public playground in this Gaza town. We funded new play equipment and a soccer field, giving children a safe space to have fun and stay active. Additionally, we provided crucial support for foundational electrical and plumbing work, as well as constructing a retainer wall to secure the property for the community’s future.
Aheba El Tefel
The playground at Aheba El Tefel Kindergarten was constructed in 2018; its name translates to "The Love of Children". It was wonderful to see video and photos of young children and their families enjoying the new facilities.
Nawa, Deir-el-Balah
Nawa is a small village situated in the central region of the Gaza Strip. In 2018, a playground was built for the local kindergarten, providing a safe and fun space for young children to play and enjoy their early childhood.
Sadly, we assume all the Gaza playgrounds we have supported building have now been destroyed and we hope for the wellbeing and safety of the children who once played there. We look forward to helping to provide opportunities for children in Gaza to play with happiness and safety once again.
Lebanon
Burj Al Shama
This playground is 3km from the city of Tyre in south Lebanon, hosting Palestinian and Syrian refugees. The community has faced many challenges, including water shortages and tensions and violence between Israel and various groups in the region. Built in 2019, the playground provides a much-needed space for children to play, learn, and enjoy their childhood despite the difficult circumstances around them.
Rashidieh Refugee Camp
This playground complex is the result of another collaborative effort between us and our previous partners, PfP in America. Amidst the challenges faced by the camp, this beautiful public park in the Tyre region of southern Lebanon became a symbol of hope and resilience. Each of the four separate playgrounds is designed to cater to the needs of different age groups, all within a larger recreational complex that serves thousands of children from the camp and surrounding areas.