RS35383_ by Aya Matrabie / DEC

Photos from the life of the visual creator. ...."Children love to play and they’ll find anything to play with. My nephews built a ‘train’ with the canned food in our room. They were so happy! My sister is trying to give them some education at home as there are no safe spaces or schools for children to go to. Schools have been turned into shelters, so children have nothing to do. We try to let them have a childhood. Sometimes they are naughty but it’s okay. They must have their voices, they must express themselves. One of my nephews was pretending to be a dentist after he broke his tooth. War has changed their thoughts and their dreams. But they may live and still have a future."....The visual creator is a 26-year-old freelance documentary filmmaker from Gaza who has been documenting the humanitarian work of DEC charities and their local partners over the last few months, via content agency Fairpicture. Before the current escalation in conflict, she ran a poetic documentary filmmaking course for young women. When the conflict escalated she held drama workshops for children to improve their mental health.....She smiled throughout the interview and reassured us that everything is, or will be, okay.....Interview by DEC on 9 May 2025 via video call from Gaza.