Sama and the poets.. from the tent of displacement, the poems of a Gaza girl are born

In the displacement camps of Mawasi Khan Younis, Palestinian poets roam among the tents to discover poetic talents in children and teach them the principles of writing and recitation. The child Sama Abu Odeh (10 years old) stands out, writing about the tent, displacement, and war. The initiative is personal and aims to give children a space for expression away from the pressures of war.

In the displacement camps of Mawasi Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, where tents crowd together and the daily life of war and displacement dominates, a number of Palestinian poets roam among the tents to discover poetic talents in children and youth. The poets offer lessons in the Arabic language, the principles of poetry writing, and the art of recitation, in a personal initiative aimed at giving children a space to express themselves away from the pressures of war. Among the children, the girl Sama Abu Odeh, 10 years old, stands out, surprising her visitors with her ability to write and recite poetry. Sama writes about the tent, displacement, the details of daily life in Gaza, and about the war approaching the end of its third year. Her mother says Sama loved poetry influenced by her, before admiration turned into talent. Poet Salim al-Dabji says the initiative also aims to document children's experiences poetically. Poet Amer Fesfes adds that the goal is to reach a new camp daily and discover new talents.