A 12-Year-Old's Resilience in Gaza

Climbing the damaged cinderblock stairs, 12-year-old Fatima invites viewers into what remains of her family's home in the Gaza Strip. "This is my room," she says proudly. "It was destroyed, but despite all that, even if the ceiling has leaks, I decided to be happy and I hung decorations." In this self-made video, Fatima offers an intimate glimpse into life affected by war: a pink-painted bedroom damaged by bombardment, a living room now used as a charging station for neighbors' cellphones — the family's only source of income. Three times a week, Fatima goes to a UNICEF-supported learning space in a tent, alongside other children from her neighborhood. In Fatima’s world, the hum of drones has replaced silence, becoming the constant soundtrack of childhood for nearly 1 million children living in the Gaza Strip. Yet Fatima’s voice remains strong, inviting us not just to witness loss, but to see resilience and the fragile hope of what still can be rebuilt. "I am proud to be a girl from Gaza," she says. "And I want to send a message: We will remain strong, no matter what happens." Subscribe to UNICEF USA's YouTube Channel for the latest updates. To learn more about UNICEF and UNICEF USA, visit: https://www.unicefusa.org Read our stories about UNICEF in action: https://www.unicefusa.org/stories Follow UNICEF USA here: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unicefusa Twitter: https://twitter.com/UNICEFUSA Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UNICEF-USA