“I was elated and slightly sad after we switched off the computer. Did that just happen? I've spent many years learning about Gaza and about what is going on there. It felt amazing but also slightly surreal to form a connection with a family living in this besieged strip of land. And yet here we were, talking about swimming in the sea, drawing, vegetarians, cooking – ordinary stuff. “
- Katy, participant in the family link-up sessions
“When a twelve-year-old student has his or her own literature published in a book, this means that the Hands Up Project opens the space for Palestinian kids to become their own Shakespeares.”
“You cannot imagine the day we have the Hands Up weekly session and you cannot imagine how they wait for this session. It’s like a celebration for them, it’s like they’re waiting for their birthday. The books too - it’s also very important to see their plays being written in books - that’s wonderful for them.”
“To be honest, seeing that intercultural communication taking place was really heart melting! I mean, just to see the students, especially the ones from Palestine, who probably have never been given the chance to leave Palestine and interact with anyone outside their country, was really overwhelming!”
“In my plenary address at the recent IATEFL conference in Birmingham, UK, I was pleased to be able to show a clip of Nick teaching one of the classes in Gaza to the more than 1000 participants who were present – and to the many more who were watching a live-stream broadcast of my talk. I was using this clip as an example of how a new methodology might be synthesised out of a combination of traditional classroom ingredients, very simple technology, a strong desire to cross physical, cultural, and linguistic boundaries, and a commitment to enlist education to resist oppression and intolerance. The response was amazing!”
“I have the privilege to work alongside Nick and provide the children of Gaza with a rare opportunity to make new friends, learn new skills and enjoy a moment of normality amidst the extraordinarily challenging circumstances they have been experiencing.”
“The siege makes learning English language very difficult, and the economical situation means children lack access to effective teaching materials. Meeting with Nick through Zoom has not been an easy task because the electricity is not available all the time. However, the English sessions were like a dream for the children. Most students have never had a live listening experience with someone from outside Gaza before.”
