On 11 February, from 12:00–2:00 pm (Palestine time), we gathered to mark an important milestone in the journey of Resilient Voices. Today, we are proud to share the full recording of that final event; a celebration of creativity, endurance, and the transformative power of storytelling in Gaza.
The event opened with the Palestinian National Anthem, followed by welcome remarks reflecting on the belief that shaped this project: every young person carries a story worth telling. What began as a digital storytelling initiative evolved into a space where memory, identity, and hope could be preserved and expressed, even under conditions of displacement, power cuts, food insecurity, and unstable internet access.
We were deeply honoured to hear from Shahida MacDougall, Director of the British Council Palestine, whose generous support through the SARD programme made this project possible. We were also grateful for reflections shared by Runna Badwan, Head of English and School Education Programme, and Lubna Taha, English and School Education Project Manager at the British Council Palestine, whose guidance and commitment accompanied the project throughout its development.
The programme featured a short film in which participants shared reflections on their journeys, alongside a moving musical performance by Mohammed Abumhadi and a powerful speech by Imad Qudaih. Trainers Auxi, Martin, and Gerhard offered reflections on working with participants through blogs, podcasts, and multimodal storytelling practices.
A key highlight of the event was the official launch of the Resilient Voices website. The platform now hosts participants’ creative work, blogs, audio pieces, and videos, ensuring that these narratives travel beyond borders and reach wider audiences. During the event, we also shared the meaning behind the project’s visual identity: the raised fist symbolizing resilience and collective strength, the Palestinian flag colours affirming identity and rootedness, and the slogan “Gaza’s Unbroken Stories” declaring continuity in the face of attempted erasure.
The final segment included certificate presentations and closing reflections, underscoring that this is not an ending but a beginning. The stories shared through Resilient Voices affirm that storytelling is not only creative practice, but also pedagogy, research, and resistance.
We invite you to watch the full event video, explore the newly launched website, and share these voices within your networks. Your engagement ensures that these stories continue to be heard, and that the space for expression, learning, and connection continues to grow.
Note: This project is supported by the British Council as part of the SARD programme, which focuses on the role of English and other languages in building resilience. SARD – Stories of Adversity, Resilience and Determination – encourages Palestinians, particularly young people, to share their stories and lived experiences through creative and educational media. The content of this production is solely the responsibility of Resilient Voices and does not necessarily reflect the views of the supporting or partnering institutions.
