Gazan teacher creates free school for displaced children in Egypt's North Sinai

Six months after the October 2023 conflict began, Palestinian teacher Hadeel Zourob arrived in El-Arish with her family and, noticing a lack of schooling for displaced Gazan children, launched an educational centre in a rented building. The initiative expanded with aid from the Misr El Kheir Foundation, allowing it to serve almost 400 students between six and 18 years old, up from about 150 in its first year. Classes follow the Palestinian curriculum, using supplies shipped from Gaza, while the school’s courtyard hosts daily assemblies with Palestinian flags.

Most pupils reside in free temporary accommodation, and several are undergoing medical rehabilitation after injury. The project aims to provide both learning and psychological healing, preparing children for eventual return to Gaza.