In a new collaboration with Masar Educational Center in Nablus earlier this month, children created portraits of their favorite people and talked about who they had focused on and why. Anar often uses individualized arts activities like these to establish trust and start conversations around children’s positive memories and experiences. Building authentic relationships in a safe, supportive space is essential before any conversations about trauma can occur.

Anar’s Shababeek program for young leaders continues with two separate cohorts — one in Bethlehem, one in Ramallah. Here, the two groups meet together in Bethlehem to build connections and learn with and from each other. At center, Anar’s two trainers Dara Rafeedie (Bethlehem) and Wadia Tannous (Ramallah) are pictured with the groups.

Last month, the Shababeek youth focused on identity and community and began discussing mental health and stress management. Here, the joint Shababeek group from both Bethlehem and Ramallah also had the chance to meet in a special session with Rev. Dr. Munther Isaac, the chair of Anar’s board.

The arts-based accompaniment team has been active as usual. Here, children share their drawings from a session titled “Map of Feelings” with Rihana Center in Al-Azzeh Refugee Camp. The session involved both drawing and theatre activities as interactive tools for children to express their emotions safely and creatively. Emil Mitri, Anar’s Expressive Arts Unit Coordinator pictured here, coaches and supervises the arts-based accompaniment teams, and leads psychosocial sessions using art and theater with children throughout the Bethlehem Governorate.

In another arts-based accompaniment team session with Al-Qimam Charity Association-Artas, children focused on an activity called “My Feelings, My Strength,” in which they created musical instruments as a form of emotional release and self-expression. Anar’s sessions usually include two leaders so that they can support each other and one can offer individualized support for any child who needs to step out of the group.

In Bethlehem in March, Anar worked with many groups, including Dar Al-Sumoud, Latin Scout Beit-Sahour, Brains Center, and Palestine Aliya University. In this gathering of caregivers above, Anar counselor Jiana Isead is joined by Bethlehem University student Lamar, who is studying child psychology. The university sought out this internship placement because of Anar’s expertise in providing meaningful training and experience for students learning about psychosocial accompaniment for children and caregivers.

Anar uses arts activities as tools for dialogue with caregivers, as well as with children. This session in Nablus focused on contradictory feelings through the creation of mismatched faces. Adults were able to talk about their emotions according to their comfort level, and the activity provided ways to connect for those not ready to share verbally with a larger group. Throughout the month, Anar’s team in Nablus organized several sessions for children and caregivers, including with Awda Center, Bassmet Hayat Association, and Safeer Charity.

Anar’s work in the Hebron Governorate covers both Beit Ummar and the city of Hebron. Throughout the month, Anar’s Hebron team — including Waleed Abed, Sahar Shadfan, and Hanadi Jawabreh — organized several sessions for children and caregivers with Al-Resala School and Kindergarten, Women's Charitable Society, Treasures of Knowledge Educational Center, and Sujood Educational Center. Here, Hanadi leads an interactive activity with young children.

Anar has launched a new initiative called Community-Based Learning Sessions designed to better understand levels of access, participation, and perceived safety in communities, as well as identify needs and assess the quality and relevance of services provided. Before Anar staff even propose interventions, they hold carefully planned sessions focused on understanding what communities need and want. During the month of March, six baseline focus groups were conducted across multiple locations in Bethlehem, Hebron, and Tulkarm Governorates. These sessions have generated initial findings that will guide the design and implementation of group interventions throughout the current year. Here, Sahar Shadfan works with a group in Hebron Governorate.

Anar’s Community-Based Learning Sessions occur not just with caregivers, but with children as well. One of Anar’s goals before interventions begin is to understand how best to create a comfortable and safe space for each child. Here, a child responds to the prompt, “Things that make me comfortable during a session…” with options they can cut out, such as, “No one laughs at me,” “I only speak when it’s my turn to speak,” “People listen to me when I speak,” “I rest when I feel exhausted,” “I feel good working in groups,” and “I feel better working by myself,” etc.

Here, Anar Executive Director Rami Khader and Psychosocial Support Unit Coordinator Dara Rafeedie (not pictured) meet with Ms. Sa’ida Al-Atrash, Director of the Directorate of Social Development; Mr. Mahmoud Zabon, Head of the Associations Department; Ms. Lubna Issa, Director of the Family Care and Protection Department; and Ms. Shorouq Al-Lahham, Child Protection Counselor at Anar’s headquarters in Beit Sahour. The meeting focused on organizing channels of communication between Anar and the Ministry of Social Development, particularly regarding the referral of children experiencing violence and abuse to the Protection Department.