Why are we healing our homeland?

We know investing in women and children is essential to achieve liberation. Societies that prioritize, elevate, and empower women and children create resilient communities, just societies, stable economies, and long-lasting, positive change.

Liberation is Required

We know that we cannot truly heal while in a constant state of oppression. We are healing from the colonization of our minds, bodies and souls. Palestine has been illegally occupied by Apartheid Israel for multiple generations. We are seeing the inevitable impacts of arrogant injustice in the everyday life of Palestinian families. The ongoing Nakba (catastrophe) and ethnic cleansing has left many feeling hopeless and alone. In the besieged city of Gaza, the people are in a perpetual state of violence and trauma, with no end in sight.  When a society undergoes collective punishment, they undergo collective trauma. We cannot end the occupation alone, but we can begin to  heal ourselves from personal, collective and generational trauma. Our collective intention to heal is powerful.  We are Healing our Homeland of all forms of oppression, misogyny, discrimination, violence and injustice. Gender equality and the empowerment of women and children is essential in any movement of liberation. Societies excel when women’s rights are upheld and valued.We are healing our homeland of all forms of oppression, misogyny, discrimination, violence and injustice. Gender equality and the empowerment of women and children is essential in any movement of liberation. Societies excel when women’s rights are upheld and valued.

Why are we focused on Gaza right now?

For the past 15 years, the Israeli apartheid regime has placed the Gaza strip under siege. The Gaza strip has been enclosed by an apartheid wall and the city is blocked by land, air, and sea. Their freedom of movement – among many other rights – has been completely stripped away. In 2021 alone, the merciless and illegal occupation forces murdered 248 Palestinians, including 61 children, and injured 1900 people in Gaza. At least 1200 homes and buildings were destroyed and another 15,000 were partially destroyed. Over 100,000 Palestinians in Gaza were displaced in 2021. In 2014, Apartheid Israel murdered over 2,250 Palestinians in Gaza, 500 of whom were children and left 11,000 wounded. At least 20,000 buildings were destroyed by the Apartheid state. This describes only two of the many attacks on the indigenous people of Palestine since 1948. The bottom line, the people in Gaza are being suffocated and too many are suffering. The empathy, resources, and support to heal their minds, bodies, and souls is long overdue.

Peace starts within our own hearts and minds, the world around us will never reflect peace unless we have it within us.

Malak Mattar, a Gaza based artist & the creator of the masterpieces you will find throughout our website.

Why women?

Palestinian women are faced with systemic and structural violence by the ongoing occupation. They are denied basic human rights such as freedom of movement, access to education, economic opportunities, and reproductive health. Women in Gaza are disproportionately impacted by displacement and poverty as a direct result of the apartheid regime. Palestinian women face gender-based violence at the hands of Israeli apartheid forces and from Palestinians themselves. While gender-based violence impacts women globally, we know that gender-based violence rises with colonial violence. And there is no shortage of colonial violence in occupied Palestine. The disproportionate impacts on women under apartheid requires more than just prayers for change but action to resist the attempt to destroy our indigenous social and political life.

Why does our Healing Unit focus on women & children?

There are one million children living in the world’s largest open-air prison – the Gaza strip. Every child that is 14 or older has experienced four major attacks that left thousands dead and countless injured and traumatized. These are generations of children who are growing up with no security and never having the chance to plan for their future. They need safety and hope. There is no doubt that the children of Gaza need ongoing psychological and social support.

Palestinian women are faced with systemic and structural violence by the ongoing occupation and discrimination. They are denied basic human rights such as freedom of movement, access to education, economic opportunities, and reproductive health. Women in Gaza are disproportionately impacted by displacement and poverty as a direct result of the apartheid regime.

Palestinian women face gender-based violence at the hands of Israeli apartheid forces and from Palestinians themselves. While gender-based violence impacts women globally, we know that gender-based violence rises with colonial violence. And there is no shortage of colonial violence in occupied Palestine.
The disproportionate impacts on women under apartheid requires more than just prayers for change but action to resist the attempt to destroy our indigenous social and political life.

We are committed to empowering women and children to realize their full potential and become capable leaders for future generations.

Articles to reflect on