Learning Through Crisis: Palestinian Early Childhood Education Program
About
When imagining daily life in a conflict zone such as Gaza, it’s easy to focus on the most immediate needs: food, shelter and safety. But for very young children, access to early childhood education is essential too. 
At a time when families are focused on survival, spending part of the day singing songs, drawing pictures or listening to stories can seem like a luxury. 
Yet these experiences – spending time with other children, learning, following a routine and simply having the chance to play – are fundamental to healthy development. They can also help children begin to recover from the trauma and disruption of conflict. 
Far from being a luxury, early childhood support is one of the most effective investments we can make to help children through crisis. 
Gaza’s youngest and most vulnerable children – those aged under five – are facing a severe early childhood development crisis. The collapse of healthcare services, widespread malnutrition, injuries caused by conflict, limited access to clean water and the destruction of education infrastructure are threatening children’s development during the years when 90% of brain development takes place. 
Despite this, there is no dedicated body coordinating support for young children and their holistic needs within the humanitarian response, increasing the risk that this critical stage of development is overlooked. 
The scale of the challenge is immense. Nearly a quarter of Gaza’s population is now affected by issues linked to early childhood development, while the United Nations estimates that human development in Gaza has been set back by 77 years. 
Around 175,000 preschool-aged children live in Gaza. Deteriorating conditions are limiting access to the healthcare, nutrition and safe environments they need to learn, grow and thrive. 
Amid growing restrictions on international aid, sa¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½’s partnership model is enabling local experts to deliver high-impact early childhood education at remarkably low cost, reaching some of Gaza’s youngest and most vulnerable children.
On June 20, 12 new learning centres opened across Gaza, providing a vital lifeline for families. Delivered in partnership with the Palestinian Early Childhood Education Program (PECEP), the centres offer early learning opportunities for children aged three to five. 
Initially, the centres will support around 700 children, providing learning, routine and play during one of the most important stages of their development. While the need across Gaza remains immense, the project demonstrates what is possible – quickly, locally and affordably – even in the most challenging circumstances. 
At a cost of approximately £10,000, a temporary learning centre can be established to support up to 30 children. Once operational, the programme provides quality early childhood education for less than £1 a day. 
In a humanitarian setting where needs are vast and resources are limited, this represents a highly cost-effective model for supporting young children during the years that matter most. 
Children learning at the early years centre opened by sa¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½â€¯in Khan Younis, Gaza. 
Kawthar's Story
Five-year-old Kawthar's family was repeatedly displaced during the war. She became malnourished and struggled to sleep because she was terrified that something would happen to her family. But within weeks of enrolling at one of the new centres, the benefits were clear.  
Like Kawthar's family, other families are seeing positive changes in their children's emotional wellbeing, social and developmental skills, alongside early literacy and numeracy. 
When Kawthar started attending the kindergarten, her personality changed. During that first month, her psychological well-being improved. She became more active and started playing. She became more confident and started doing things independently at home. She now enjoys colouring, drawing and writing.Haneen Hijazi, Kawthar’s mother
At a time when families are focused on survival, spending part of the day singing songs, drawing pictures or listening to stories is far from being a luxury. Early years support is one of the highest-impact investments we can make to help children through crisis. The window for intervention is closing, and failure to act now risks the future of an entire generation.
Sarah Brown, Chair of sa¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½
This model proves that early childhood development does not have to be overlooked in humanitarian responses. By working with trusted local partners, we can reach the youngest children with the learning, care and support they need in a way that is practical, affordable and scalable.
Justin van Fleet, sa¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½â€¯President
This work was made possible by:
Our partners and funders make this work possible through their commitment to creating lasting change for children and young people.
This project is one of several initiatives sa¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½ is supporting across the sa¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½.
Resources
Reports
Updated: Early Childhood Development in Gaza: An Urgent Call for Action
Explainer
Education in emergencies
Reports
The Act For Early Years Report
News
sa¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½ opens 12 early learning centres in Gaza as new report reveals early childhood development crisis
