Palestine refugee girls from Gaza and Czech students perform remote play Welcome to Earth © 2021 Hands Up Project
For the first time, five Palestinian refugee girls from Gaza shared a stage at St Louise’s Comprehensive College in Belfast to perform two plays, give a dance recital, sing, and communicate with one voice the importance of taking care of the environment.
They were joined by children from Afghanistan, Iraq Russia, Sudan, Syria and Thailand.
“Today is the best day in my life because today I sent my message of hope to the world.” These were the words of Rahaf, 15. Along with her friends from Gaza, Malak (14) and Yara (13), all three of them Palestine refugees, she travelled to Belfast to meet Magdalena (12) and Julie (13) from the Czech Republic. Together, they spent a week-long visit organised by The Hands Up Project, a British charity that connects Palestinian children with classes globally.
Last year, the young actresses won the annual Hands Up Project Lockdown Theatre competition with their international production of ‘Welcome to Earth.’ The prize was a life-changing trip to the United Kingdom to meet for the first time and turn the play into a face-to-face performance. The online play, originally written and performed by five teenage boys in Askar UNRWA Boys school in Nablus, tells a story of peace and hope for a better world.
Palestine refugee girls and Czech students take part in art workshop in Belfast © 2022 Hands Up Project. (Photo: UNRWA)