Fifteen years of life under blockade and continued Israeli aggression has left four out of five children in Gaza living with fear, anguish, and depression. About 80% of children suffer from emotional distress, and the mental wellbeing of young people and caregivers has deteriorated as well.

Since 2015, UPA’s Healing through Feeling program strives to build a cushion of support around Gaza’s children suffering from ongoing trauma. This is accomplished by hiring local mental health practitioners and providing them with cutting-edge training and professional development to lead psycho-education sessions for parents and teachers. These sessions increase the caregivers’ awareness to identify symptoms of trauma and their ability to help children deal with it.

The stories our team in Gaza witnesses are stories of children and adults that have endured deep unseen wounds – wounds that are as harmful as bodily injuries – deeper wounds that unless addressed, will have long term devastating effects.

Thank you for your support and for entrusting UPA to put your compassion into action. Donate today: act.upaconnect.org/untoldstories