Life in six words

I am the founder and director of  We Are Not Numbers, a storytelling project for Palestinian youth in the occupied territories and refugee camps. One of the practice exercises recently was to write a story in just six words, reflecting one aspect of life in Gaza or Lebanon (wherever they live).  Participants loved it so much that many wrote more than one! Below, I share some of the results–six-word glimpses into the inner life and thoughts of refugees.

Gaza reality – Heba Zaher

1. “Let’s study.” The power went out.
2. For sale: Gazan passport, never used.
3. They killed her; something changed: numbers.
4. She decides to rot in bed.

Holocaust to Palestine – Ghada Al-Haddad

1. Expelled from Europe; holocaust in Palestine.
2. Kills Palestinians; yet he’s called “hero.”
3. War. Ceasefire. War. Ceasefire. Pause. Fire.
4. Stray shrapnel hits, now paralyzed forever.
5. War has ended, but trauma hasn’t.

In the caravan – Basman Derawi
As described in a recent story, many Gaza families are still homeless following the 2014 Israeli assault and are living in caravans, or trailers.

1. Only three: me, darkness and cold.
2. Given a blanket; still not warm.
3. Miss my old, broken-roof home.
4. Lamp light: two hours until power.
5. Waking up: the only work available.

Resistance – Ghada Ahmed

1. He pointed his gun; she smiled.
2. The right to belong—a reason to die
3. The child’s no longer a child.
4. The story of their home, now ashes.
5. Mother’s eyes: gloom, but light remains.

Simple math — Yasmin Hillis

1. Their dad left, in a coffin.
2. An air strike; no one left.

Refugee forever – Huda Dawood
(Lebanon)

1. Syrians too? Palestinians are enough.
2. Live in camps; just no tents.
3. Qualified for the job, but Palestinian.
4. Have an opinion? Not your country!

Women struggle for justice — Duaa Ardat
(Lebanon)

1. Colorful clothing doesn’t mean vivid life.
2. Gender-based violence stole her femininity.
3. Peace is not absence of war.
4. And then we faded into oblivion.