Writing Contest for Gaza Children Becomes Book

A writing contest for children in Gaza, launched in early 2024 amid the ongoing bombardment, has resulted in the publication of a book titled "Qui c'era la nostra casa. I bambini di Gaza raccontano" (Here Was Our Home: The Children of Gaza Tell Their Stories). The initiative was conceived by Amil Sarsour, Rizq al-Mazahna, and the Palestinian associations Yarmouk and the Popular Committee of Safed. Rezek al-Muza'anan, a Palestinian from Gaza living in Uppsala, Sweden, collected the children's stories, involving other Gazans such as Shorouk Doghmosh. The committee visited numerous tent camps and schools across Palestinian territory to encourage children and adolescents to write. The book, published by Meltemi, features an introduction and editing by Amedeo Cottino, a former sociology professor who also taught in Sweden.