In El-Arish, North Sinai, a small makeshift school gives displaced Palestinian children a chance to return to something many of them have been missing for years: a classroom. Founded by Palestinian teacher Hadeel Zourob, the “Beacon of Hope” initiative is now teaching more than 400 Gazan children who have been displaced to Egypt.
A Classroom for More Than 400 Children
The volunteer-run school operates from a six-room house, where Gazan teachers teach nearly 400 primary and secondary students. For many of the children, it is their first chance to return to regular education after years of war and disrupted schooling.
The students are among hundreds of Palestinian children who have been uprooted by the war in Gaza and now live in El-Arish, a coastal city of dusty streets and low-rise apartments located 44 kilometres (27 miles) from the Gaza border.
“They fled to Egypt and found themselves here without schools or education,” said Hadeel Zourob
Founded by a Displaced Teacher
Zourob fled Gaza with her family six months after the war began in October 2023, following the attack against Israel and the massive Israeli offensive that followed.
Together with other displaced Palestinian teachers, she initially began teaching a small group of children in a rented building. That small effort eventually grew into the “Beacon of Hope” school, creating a space where hundreds of children could continue learning.
According to Zoroub, the Egyptian charity Misr El Kheir Foundation covered rent and school supplies.
More Than Just Lessons
The school’s role goes beyond teaching regular subjects. It also supports children dealing with trauma and learning difficulties, aiming to help them cope with the psychological toll of war and displacement while maintaining a sense of belonging.
For the teachers, creating a familiar school environment is also a way of helping children hold on to a part of their everyday lives.
“When they eventually return to Gaza, the school atmosphere won’t feel strange to them. They will still have that experience and spirit of school life,” said Zourob
Keeping Hope Alive
Zourob is now seeking funding and official recognition to keep the centre operating and ensure the children can continue their education.
For the families involved, the school offers more than a place to study. It gives displaced children a chance to learn, reconnect with others, and experience a little bit of normal school life again.
“We hope they can achieve their dreams despite the difficult and tragic conditions we are living through outside Gaza,” Palestinian mother Ons Shehta said.
For now, the “Beacon of Hope” school is giving displaced Gazan children more than lessons. It is creating a sense of routine, community, and hope while helping them hold on to their connection to home.
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