Deaf children in Gaza use expressive film to tell their tales

[Jefferson23]

Students at Atfaluna Deaf Institute in Gaza produce animated films to convey an important message about Israel's 51-day assault last summer -

Mohammed Omer
Last update:
Wednesday 29 April 2015


A student from Atfaluna creates part of the film set for the school's newest animation project (MEE) -

Fourteen year-old Abdullah Ghazal lived through and experienced the 51 day Israeli assault on Gaza last summer in a way that was very different to most other Gazan children his age. Unlike the others he didn’t realise the full extent of the assault until after it was over.

As a deaf child, he was with his family in their tiny Gaza apartment when it all started. Everyone in his family understood that there was an assault going on. The noises of war filled their ears; explosions and screams. The dining table that they all took shelter under shook several times, and the vase sitting atop the table was knocked to the floor. Yet, as Abdullah would later explain, as he could not hear, he could not fully comprehend what was happening - although he knew it was bad. The adults around him tried to comfort him, but he was able to see the abject terror in their eyes and on their faces. All he knew was that something dreadful was happening.

“I was afraid, because I could neither hear the bombing, nor any news, nor what the people around me were shouting and screaming about - I could only feel the physical effects and tremors around us. I only fully realised the outcome of the war, when I came to the institute.”

Upon his return to the Deaf Institute where he learns, he started to ask his teachers many questions, finding out which of his friends were still alive, injured or missing. Walking the streets of Gaza, trying to find missing friends he was also able to witness the large-scale destruction first-hand.

- See more at: http://www.middleeasteye.net/in-depth/features/deaf-children-expressive-film-1250958021#sthash.Cy23oPUC.dpuf

[azurnoir]

1. very moving

thank you for posting