The Hands up Project

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🙏 Support Sarah — A Voice of Gaza
Sarah, one of our talented poets from The Hands Up Project, is facing a difficult time. Her mother is seriously ill, and she needs help caring for her little sister.
💛 Donate here: spot.fund/z5pkq1sc

Magic alert! ✨ Yesterday’s English conversation session was pure light: our young learners shared favorite songs and stories, showed off beloved objects, and even raced through tongue twisters in four languages (English, Arabic, Italian, Spanish!).

YouTube video by The hands up project The Choice

🙏 Support Teacher Maisoon & Her Family in Gaza
Maisoon, a devoted Hands Up teacher, used to be pleased by working with her students and coaching them to perform theatre plays like this one: THE CHOICE → www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJfw...

❤️ Please consider donating: gofund.me/9ef39d10

🎭 Today’s highlight from Gaza: Miss Majad and her students brought the “Shatter Hassan” story to life—without saying a word. A powerful silent acting performance that spoke volumes through gestures, expression, and connection.

Welcome to Gaza: Palestinian children’s voices reach UK stages ’Welcome to Gaza’ brings Palestinian children’s stories of life under Israeli siege and occupation to UK stages in a powerful play directed by Peter Oswald

🎭 Welcome to Gaza featured in The New Arab — a powerful collection of short plays written by children in Gaza & the West Bank, now on UK stages this summer.
Stories of hope, loss & resilience brought to life.

📖 Read here:
www.newarab.com/features/wel...

🎭 Welcome to Gaza comes to Manchester!
Created & performed by the original young writers from Gaza & the West Bank, directed by Peter Oswald.

📍 The Social Refuge
🗓 Tue 19 Aug | 7:30 PM (doors 7:00 PM)

🎟 Tickets: www.socialrefuge.com/event-detail...

📚✨ English learning in action!
In our Cairo school, Miss Afnan and Doaa make language fun and engaging as they teach the kids new English words through games, songs, and smiles.
Building confidence one word at a time!
#HandsUpProject #CairoSchool #EnglishLearning #PalestinianYouth

This morning, from our sharing space in Totnes, we sang 'Wild mountain thyme' with Palestinian children in Gaza and Cairo - participants on our conversation course. Thanks to Sahar M. Salha, and our amazing volunteers around the world for coordinating such a lovely session!

🐠 In our Cairo school, learning goes beyond books!
Watch as Suliman teaches the kids how to care for the fish — nurturing responsibility, kindness, and curiosity.
It’s the little lessons that grow big hearts.
#HandsUpProject #CairoSchool #LearningLifeSkills #HopeInAction #PalestinianYouth

🕊️ New session highlight from Gaza!
Today, Miss Hana and her brilliant students explored the story of #The_Storks_and_the_Snake — a journey of wisdom, teamwork, and fun.
These sessions continue to bring light, learning, and joy despite everything around.

🎥 A look inside our Cairo school — a space for learning, healing & hope.
Huge thanks to Hands Up, Suliman, our amazing team & donors.
Help us keep it going:
👉 www.justgiving.com/page/donna-c...

🎭 Less than 2 weeks to go until Welcome to Gaza takes the stage at Edinburgh Fringe!

Looking back on these brilliant rehearsal moments in Totnes — and getting excited to be back in the room together again.

🗓 13th August | 2:00 PM
📍 Portobello Town Hall
🎟️ Tickets: www.edfringe.com/tickets/what...

🎉 This Week’s Activities with Miss Majad and her students in Gaza 🇵🇸:

✅ Vote Challenge
✅ Pegs Game
✅ Apology Letter from the Prince
✅ Nasruddin’s Letter
✅ Exploring Emotions
🎭 Acting it all out!

Creative learning, critical thinking, and fun all in one classroom 🌟

Join us for a Live Storytelling Session 🎤
"Joha and the Nail" By Sue Piper
🕔 5:00 PM Palestine | 🕒 3:00 PM UK
📍Live on Facebook
Don’t miss it!

🌙 Moon, Tell Me Truth opens tonight in Belfast, Ireland 🇮🇪

A moving poetry exhibition by children in Gaza — part of Féile an Phobail’s Visual Arts Launch.

📍 St Mary’s Teacher Training College
📅 July 30 – August 8

🎟️ Welcome to Gaza tickets now on sale!

📍 Edinburgh Fringe – Portobello Town Hall
🗓️ 13 Aug, 2PM
🎫 www.edfringe.com/tickets/what...

📍 London – Palestine House
🗓️ 22 & 23 Aug, 7:30PM
🎫 www.tickettailor.com/events/pales...

Created & performed by young writers from Gaza & the West Bank.

Join us for a Live Storytelling Session 🎤
"My little sister" By Leen , a talented Palestinian student 🇵🇸
🕔 5:00 PM Palestine | 🕒 3:00 PM UK
📍Live on Facebook
Don’t miss it!

In Gaza, where children deserve peace, not war — the Stories Alive clubs bring love, stories, and laughter.
Led by Ashraf and his amazing team since the start of the genocide.
You’ll see little Omar in this video. His light lives on.
🕊️ Rest in peace, sweet soul.

🎭 Our Remote Theatre summer course is live!
Kids from Palestine & Venezuela are learning English through drama with Tere from Argentina — all online! 🌍✨
Thanks to our amazing HUP volunteers.
Stay tuned for powerful virtual performances! 🎬

🎭 Our two gorgeous students, Noor and Sireen, brought the story of Jebene to life as they role-played Jebene and the landowner during our drama session!Their energy, creativity, and confidence shined on stage ✨So proud of all our students in Gaza — always turning stories into unforgettable moments.

🎉 Lots of joy and enthusiasm with the #Jbene story this week!
Miss Hana and her wonderful students in Gaza brought the story to life through engaging activities like:
🔹 Step Up game

Learning English has never been this fun! 🌟
#HandsUpProject #StoriesAlive #Jbene #CreativeLearning #GazaVoices

🎉 Lots of joy and enthusiasm with the #Jbene story this week!
Miss Hana and her wonderful students in Gaza brought the story to life through engaging activities like:

🔹 Word memory challenges

Learning English has never been this fun! 🌟

🎭✨ Exploring the Tale of Nus Nuseis in Gaza!
Miss Wafaa and her amazing students dived into the fun and wisdom of the Nus Nuseis story during our latest Hands Up Project sessions in Gaza.

🌟 Happening in just one hour!
Join us for a Live Storytelling Session 🎤
"Moana" By Majdal and Ayloul, a talented Palestinian students 🇵🇸
🕔 4:30 PM Palestine | 🕒 2:30 PM UK
📍Live on Facebook
Don’t miss it!

This week with Miss Majad and her brilliant students in Gaza, we explored the story Nasruddin and the Orchard Owner with thought-provoking and fun activities

🎟️ Tickets now on sale for Welcome to Gaza at @edfringe.bsky.social
🗓️ 13 Aug, 2PM
📍 Portobello Town Hall
🎫 www.edfringe.com/tickets/what...
Don’t miss this powerful one-off show from the children of Gaza and the West Bank. #WelcomeToGaza #edfringe

Let’s hit critical thinking mode 🧠
Miss Majad’s students in Gaza explored “Nasruddin & the Orchard Owner” with:

✨ Vocab race
📝 Story writing
🎭 Creative scenes
⚖️ Debating: Who’s most guilty?

Learning, reflection, and lots of fun.
#HandsUpProject #GazaVoices #CriticalThinking #NasruddinStory

More devastating news! Yesterday Sama Fayyad was killed. Sama who was one of the winners of the intercultural remote theatre competition in 2023 and who travelled to Jerusalem with us on her first trip out of Gaza almost two years ago. Rest in power Sama.

We’ve been sharing the Welcome to Gaza recording with the original young writers and actors in Gaza — bringing pride, heartbreak, and unbearable loss. 💔
Tala (Left Behind) and Yousra (The Choice), were both killed in Israel’s genocide on Gaza.
Their voices live on.
RIP

📍 The Hands Up Project now has a space in Totnes!

Come visit our new poetry exhibition “Take Me to the Sky” and see the powerful Dress of Impossible — stitched with tears from our Pilgrimage for Palestine.

Books, connections, stories — all in one moving space.