Engaging Media, Art and Play: A Tribute to Palestinian Childhoods

The above drawing, Shelter,  is by Malak Mattar (2021).

ReMap member, Dr Feryal Awan is a Lecturer in Media and Postcolonial Studies at UCL. Her research interest lies at the intersection of cultural studies and critical childhood studies. She is currently writing her first book entitled Colonised childhoods: Childhood and Children’s Media in Palestine due to be published by UCL Press in December 2024.  In this post she summarises her latest research project:

As you step into the Institute of Education foyer on the 4th floor, you might notice exhibits within the glass cabinets, inviting you to explore the dreams, hopes, and experiences of Palestinian children.* These exhibits are part of the Letters for Palestinian childhoods (L4PC) project —an endeavor that provides the only glimmer of hope amidst my otherwise overwhelming despair at the state of the world.

L4PC is a response to a global call to action by childhood scholars and students, who demanded an immediate ceasefire and called on people to stand in solidarity and counter the dehumanisation of Palestinian children and adults. The result was a coming together of international academics and artists, who used their critical childhood studies knowledge, to build a website & Instagram account and a travelling exhibition of letters, poems, and artwork attending to the names, stories, experiences, dreams, and struggles of Palestinian children and the actions of the Western-backed Israeli state which are so violently shaping their lives.

Some of the art and letters were created in direct response to one another, while in other cases, curators paired images and words based on shared themes. The exhibit is enhanced by an immersive sound experience, where authors and artists recite their work—some also in Arabic. The L4PC team currently includes Professor Rachel Rosen from the Social Research Institute, Dr. Feryal Awan from REMAP, and two student interns from the MA Sociology of Childhood and Child Rights program, Mah-Noor Ghani and Xuan Jin, alongside Professor Fikile Nxumalo and her students from the University of Toronto. The exhibition has traveled globally, showcasing in Mexico, Poland, South Africa, Spain (Basque Country, Cádiz, Seville), and the UK (Bristol, London, Oxford). Parts of it have been translated into several languages, including Spanish, German, and Italian.

The second phase of the project, entitled “Children’s Letters for Palestinian Childhoods,” made possible by an Institute of Advanced Studies grant, involves facilitating workshops for children of various ages. These workshops utilised participatory and embodied learning approaches to collaboratively build understanding about Palestine and the genocide in Gaza, and to discuss, design, and write/draw letters to Palestinian children. The aim is to centre children and their unique questions and insights, engaging the public by raising awareness and creating spaces for conversation about Palestine and its transnational meanings and connections.

Workshops were tailored to each age group and facilitator’s skillset, incorporating activities like storytelling and art-based sessions. These included mother-child sessions at a center for South Asian women affected by domestic abuse and sessions with migrant youth at a Sunday social center. In one East London secondary school, Palestinian theatre-maker Osama Al-Azza facilitated drama-based activities to explore emotions surrounding loss, love, and solidarity. Students were tasked with creating short performances that examined their emotions related to the loss of something or someone they cherished, as well as reflecting on the kind of solidarity they might offer or seek in similar situations. Working in small groups, the students (Key Stage 3) brainstormed storylines, created characters, and rehearsed scenes, later presenting their skits to peers.

We hope that CL4C provides an empowering platform for children to express their thoughts, emotions, and dreams, while forging connections and solidarity with Palestinian children and their communities.

The texts and images produced by participating children have been added to the L4PC website and Instagram pages, and they will soon be featured in a new traveling exhibition. Stay tuned!

We invite you to contribute a letter, artwork, or even host an exhibit or workshop. Reach out to us to get involved.

*The Letters will be exhibited at Rich Mix in Shoreditch , London E1 6LA from 14 November – 6 December 2024. Opening times:
Mon – Fri: 9am to late
Sat – Sun: 10am to late