Reclaiming childhood: a kindergarten reborn in the West Bank

In the village of Zif, nestled in the hills of the southern West Bank, a once-quiet kindergarten has come back to life. Classrooms, once worn and bare, now burst with colour, fresh paint and activity, a rebirth of what this space was always meant to be: a place where children feel free to grow, explore and belong. 

With the support of the Government of Canada through the Humanitarian Coalition, World Vision Canada has helped transform a struggling kindergarten into a vibrant and inclusive space for children to learn and play, despite the hardships facing their families. The kindergarten had been directly damaged in the escalating conflict in the West Bank –  a region that has seen a sharp rise in settler violence. Spaces intended for play and learning were no longer safe, making rehabilitation not just a renewal, but a necessary step to restore protection and dignity for the youngest members of the community.  

Nour, a longtime educator and the kindergarten's principal, had dedicated her life to building a safe environment for children in her community. But over the past year, escalating violence, economic collapse and severe movement restrictions brought many dreams to a halt. Families lost income, enrolments dropped and Nour began to wonder whether the school could survive. The kindergarten –  once full of life –  had begun to feel like a place that the community could no longer have the audacity to believe in. 

Then came change. 

As part of World Vision's project, Nour's kindergarten was fully rehabilitated: classrooms were repaired, new furniture was provided, the garden was made accessible, and a proper playground was installed, complete with canopies to shield the children from the sun. Training sessions offered to Nour and other educators introduced new ways to support young learners through play, sports and creative expression, essential tools in a time of stress and uncertainty. 

Nour began to notice the difference immediately. One child, a four-year-old boy named Ahmed, had struggled to connect with his peers and express himself. After Nour applied techniques she had learned during the project training, Ahmed gradually began to participate, draw, speak and even lead playtime with other children.  

His progress became a beacon of hope –  for his family and for the entire community. "My son loves coming here every day," said Ahmed's mother. "He feels safe, and he comes home happy and full of stories." 

More families are now enrolling their children, and Nour is once again able to collect a small fee to help sustain the kindergarten. "They not only helped me rebuild my kindergarten," she said, "but also empowered me to dream bigger for the future." 

"Thanks to the project, I feel more confident as a leader in my community," adds Nour. "This support has had a lasting effect, touching the lives of every child who walks through our doors and giving them the foundation they need to succeed." 

*Names were changed for security reasons