You know what a playground looks like, right? It has swings, slides and a seesaw, children laughing and playing, and the sun shining in the sky. However, for children in Gaza, it is not like that. Playgrounds are in ruins, and the sounds of kids’ laughter are replaced by ambulance sirens. They are living in a nightmare every day, and they need help.
What children in Gaza are going through
Imagine being a child in Gaza. Your childhood will be far from what any other kid’s childhood will look like. You may wake up hungry and go to bed on an empty stomach. You may have no idea where your next meal will come from or if you will even be able to eat. At an age when kids don’t even know what death is, you may have witnessed violence firsthand. You may have lost a loved one or a family member. Medical care is also limited, and you may have to walk for miles just for a glass of clean drinking water. Let’s take a closer look at the problems they face.
Hunger and malnutrition: As mentioned earlier, there is food scarcity in Gaza, and kids don’t have access to nutritious food. Because of this, they suffer from malnutrition. Because of unemployment, families struggle to earn a living and feed their families, and kids go to bed hungry. They may also suffer from vitamin deficiencies, as they lack the vitamins and minerals they need to develop and grow.
Lack of timely medical care: When a child in Gaza is unwell or injured and needs a doctor, it is not easy. The hospitals there are overcrowded, and there is a lack of medicine and medical tools. So getting them help fast is difficult.
Mental trauma: This, unlike wounds and injuries, is not visible, but it can leave behind scars. Due to the crisis there, children have witnessed conflict, violence and death, which has impacted their mental health negatively. Many of them could suffer from PTSD, anxiety and even depression. They could also suffer from insomnia and night terrors and have a hard time concentrating.
Limited to no access to education: Schools in Gaza have been destroyed, and the ones that are there still are overcrowded. Because of these reasons, the kids’ education has been disrupted, which can affect their futures negatively. They could miss out on important learning opportunities in the future and be unable to develop or learn the skills that they need to succeed in life.
Unsafe living conditions: Many children live in conditions which are not safe. Some places may also be overcrowded. They may not have access to clean water and sanitation. They may live in temporary shelters, houses or buildings that are partially destroyed, which increases the risk of injury or getting sick. Imagine having to tolerate the cold and living with dozens of other people while already going through so much at that age.
Why your support is important
It is difficult for us to imagine how life in Gaza is during this crisis since we live far away. However, even a small donation from your end can make a huge difference. America has a long history of helping those in need, and the people and children of Gaza need our help.
As members of the global community, we have a shared responsibility to help those in need, especially children. We should keep this in mind and do whatever in our power to help the vulnerable who have been affected. When you donate, organizations working on the ground to uplift the people of Gaza will be able to continue providing food, medical care and psychological help to those in need. When you show your support, the message you are passing on to the kids in Gaza is that they are not alone. Your help can give them a chance at a better future. It has been observed that when kids grow up in environments where they feel safe and supported, they grow up to be responsible and kind adults.
During this difficult time, it is important for us to show them that they are not alone and that there are people in the world who care about them and want to help.
What difference can your donations make?
They support organizations that are working in Gaza and helping those in need. They are known to provide life-saving help to those in need.
Food: Your donations will be used to give nutritious meals to children and their families. As mentioned before, lack of food has led to children suffering from malnutrition and vitamin deficiencies. There are also organizations that distribute items like rice, lentils and canned food. Besides giving them these items and food, they also give nutritional supplements to vulnerable children, like vitamins and fortified milk.
Medical care and treatment: Your donations can support hospitals as well as clinics, provide medical equipment and medication, as well as support healthcare professionals who have put their lives on the line and work 24×7 to save other people’s lives.
Mental health support: Your donations can be used to provide mental health support in the form of individual therapy, art therapy as well as group counselling to kids in Gaza who have experienced trauma.
Education: Your support could help rebuild schools that have been destroyed due to conflict. Your donations can also be used to provide kids with notebooks, textbooks and support or initiate programs like after-school tutoring and scholarships.
Shelter: Many children and their families have been left without homes since they have been destroyed due to the conflict. Your donations will be used to provide families who have lost their homes with a safe shelter and to rebuild or repair their destroyed homes. This also includes the provision of tents, blankets and other items.
How do you choose an NGO to support?
Before you donate, it is important that you do your research and pick an organization that has a demonstrative history of helping those in need. You could go to their websites to learn more about the work they have done and check their financial reports. It is also a good idea to see what others are saying about the organization and to check for reviews and testimonials. You must also go with organizations whose ideologies and mission align with your values and beliefs.
Why is long-term support important?
While the need for life-saving items like food, medicines, and water is urgent and crucial, long-term support is just as important. When programs are sustainable and long-term, they can help rebuild schools, homes, parks and also create job opportunities.
Their programs, in the long run, can help families become more self-sufficient and reduce how much they rely on outside help. When you support vocational training or other similar initiatives, two things happen. Firstly, you help address the immediate kids of the kids, and secondly, you help create a foundation for their secure future.
How can you have your donations make a larger impact?
You can set up recurring donations or even small ones. When you donate in this way, organizations have a steady flow of funds that reach them, which allows them to better plan their programs. There are also some NGOs that have matching gift programs where your donation can be doubled or, sometimes, even tripled.
You could also consider donating in kind by donating your time or using your skills to help people. You don’t need to be in Gaza to do this, you can do this remotely as well. If you are a teacher or professor, you could teach online. When you maximize your donation, whether it is a monetary or non-monetary one, you help amplify your impact and help create a lasting change for the kids in Gaza.
How can you help if you cannot donate?
If you are unable to donate, you could also make an impact by being an advocate for kids in Gaza. You could use social media to raise awareness about the situation in Gaza by sharing their stories and also taking part in local events that raise awareness about the issue. By doing this, you can make people aware of the situation in Gaza and also encourage more people to offer support. Even in this way, you can show your support to the kids in Gaza and let them know that they are not alone or forgotten.
Conclusion
Kids in Gaza have seen things that we could maybe never imagine, but despite that, they are still strong and have hope that their country will have a better future.
They, too, have the right to a normal and happy childhood, and by supporting them, you can make this happen. To support NGOs who are working on the ground to help the affected children, head to equalall today and donate to an NGO whose mission and work you want to support.