On the first day, classrooms were decorated with simple ornaments. Teachers offered sweets and juice — a rare treat for many children — as a way of easing the hunger that has become part of daily life in Gaza.
“I was afraid to come to school,” said Hiba, 7. “But when I saw my teachers and friends, I felt safe. I was so happy when I got candy. I haven’t had sweets in a long time.”
The day carried a mix of emotions — sorrow for what the people of Gaza are enduring, yet also the resilience of teachers and children determined to continue learning.
“Despite the bombardment and the fear, our educational mission continues,” said Mohammed, one of the school’s teachers. “We wanted the students to feel that the school is their second home. Our role as teachers during emergencies is one of the greatest contributions we can make to our people in Gaza.”
Education under fire
The Hermann Gmeiner School is part of SOS Children’s Villages’ emergency education response in Gaza. More than 500 children, from kindergarten to early primary grades, are now receiving daily classes under the supervision of SOS Children’s Villages teachers in Khan Younes.
To make this possible, six classrooms have been fully equipped and furnished to ensure independent service delivery, improve educational outcomes, and help children recover from months of disrupted learning. The new location has been officially approved by the Ministry of Education, and coordination is ongoing with UNICEF to ensure the use of approved learning materials. SOS Children’s Villages is also working closely with other organizations through the Education Cluster, the international platform that coordinates education in emergencies
“Establishing an educational space during this difficult and critical time is indeed very important,” said Ahlam, a third-grade teacher. “We feel honored to continue fulfilling our mission, even in these challenging circumstances.”
Overcrowding and hunger
The new school year begins as tens of thousands flee Gaza City amid a major Israeli ground offensive. At the same time, famine has been officially declared in Gaza, with more than 640,000 people projected to face catastrophic food insecurity and hundreds already reported dead from starvation. Families continue to struggle with soaring prices and scarce supplies, making schools not only a place for learning but also a refuge from hunger and fear.
Already, the challenges remain immense. Following mass displacement, humanitarian zones in Gaza are overcrowded, with families living in makeshift shelters under deteriorating conditions. While some supplies have entered, famine persists and prices remain out of reach for many.
Children often arrive at school hungry, their focus and energy diminished. To respond, SOS Children’s Villages is working with partners to provide light meals, supporting children’s well-being and encouraging regular attendance.
Every day, dozens of families ask to enrol their children. With capacity already stretched, plans are underway to establish another educational space closer to the SOS Children's Villages tent encampment, where many children and their caregivers now live. The existing school is about three kilometres away, posing challenges for regular access.
Hope in the classroom
For the children who attend, the school is more than a place of learning. It has become a refuge of normality, friendship, and care amid chaos.
“The first day of school was filled with both sadness and hope,” said Tahreer AlQarra, Education in Emergency Coordinator and the School Principal. “But above all, it reminded us why we are here - to give children the chance to feel safe, to learn, and to dream, even in the hardest of times.”