In Tulkarem and Jenin, the sounds of music, the colors of paint, the scent of wood, the texture of clay, and the patterns of embroidery are weaving together a new story of resilience. Through Roots & Threads, implemented by the Tamer Institute for Community Education in partnership with Taawon, under the patronage of the Ministry of Social Development and with the generous support of GOAL Global, children are reclaiming safe spaces for healing and creativity.
What began with psychosocial support sessions and life-skills training has grown into something deeper. Here, memory meets craft, and pain is reshaped into expression. Threads of embroidery, carvings on wood, murals on walls, and clay sculptures have become the children’s language of survival and hope.
“It’s my first time working with my hands like this,” said one participant. “I tried pottery and embroidery… and I felt it’s more than just an activity. It could be a skill I carry with me for life.”
As the camp moves into the production phase, these young people are transforming what they have learned into art that speaks. Each piece reflects their individuality, their voice, and their story. Soon, families will witness their work displayed alongside the narratives born from the experience, living proof that creativity can rise from hardship.
“I’ve always loved drawing,” said another child, “but here it felt like something bigger… a way to express my feelings and ideas. When I saw my painting among my friends’ work, I felt proud.”
Roots & Threads is not only about crafts. It is about restoring identity, reviving heritage, and giving children the confidence to dream. What started as a summer camp has become a space of healing and empowerment, where 200 adolescents aged 12 to 18 are learning that they are not defined by loss but by the futures they can create with their own hands.