Over the past 10 months, Hakini has provided critical mental health support to over 5,200 individuals across Gaza, offering a lifeline of emotional relief amid the ongoing crisis. Through conducting more than 200 support groups and workshops, we’ve created spaces for women, children, men, and families to express themselves, share their stories, and access short-term relief with available tools during the ongoing war.
Despite the overwhelming challenges of war and displacement, our team of mental health professionals in Gaza remains committed to providing mental health interventions using the best practices during the unusual situation in Gaza. Hakini is steadfast in its commitment to empowering Gaza’s communities, fostering mental wellbeing, and instilling hope for a brighter future.
Key Highlights from the Past 10 Months
5,200+ Individuals Supported: We’ve reached parents, children, and communities across Gaza, offering mental health support through our dedicated team of mental health professionals on the ground.
200+ Workshops and Support Groups: Focused on emotional relief and resilience building.
165 Mental Health Professionals Trained: Strengthened the capacity of local professionals to provide ongoing support.
20+ Jobs Created: Boosted employment in the mental health sector, strengthening local capacity.
Collaborations with Shelters and Schools: Worked with institutions across northern, central, and southern Gaza to extend our reach.
Supportive Environments Established: Created supportive settings where individuals could express their emotions and receive help from experienced mental health professionals with over seven years of expertise.
Over 100 Online Counseling Sessions: Provided personalized mental health support to individuals both inside and outside Gaza, offering tailored guidance during this challenging period.
Challenges Faced
Personal Loss Among Facilitators
Scarcity of Materials
Connectivity and Internet Issues
Overwhelming Demand
Gender Norms
Challenges in Displacement Centers
Support Groups & Workshops: Hakini has conducted over 200 sessions of support groups and workshops across Gaza during the ongoing war.
Support Groups: Offered 6-hour programs with icebreakers, storytelling, breathing exercises, and the "Tree of Life" activity to foster emotional expression and mutual support.
Mental Health Workshops: Tailored 3 hour workshops with art-based exercises like "Ball and Parachute Play" and "Free Drawing," plus recreational activities for children, providing emotional release, joy, and connection.
Photos from the Activities
Tree of Life Exercise: Participants draw a tree with roots, trunk, branches, leaves, and fruits. Each part symbolizes aspects of their lives: roots (origin/family), trunk (education/hobbies/qualities), branches (siblings), leaves (friends/supporters), and fruits (achievements/goals).
Three changes activities: Participants are divided into two groups, facing each other. One group makes changes to their appearance while the other group closes their eyes. The latter group then tries to identify the changes.x
Free Drawing for Emotional Relief Activities: Participants are given paper and colors to draw freely, expressing their dreams, hopes, sadness, joy, memories, and desires.
Training Sessions
Hakini’s specialized training programs have been vital in strengthening mental health support across Gaza. We’ve trained over 165 frontline workers, educators, and social workers in Psychological First Aid (PFA), equipping them with essential skills to respond effectively during emergencies and care for their own well-being.
Online Counseling Sessions
To meet the needs of individuals in Gaza, Hakini offers one-on-one counseling through our website and mobile app as well as our toll free hotline. We’ve provided more than 100 free counseling sessions to Gazans within and outside the region.
These sessions provide:
Personalized support tailored to individual needs
Enhanced emotional resilience in times of crisis
Confidential and convenient care, accessible from anywhere
The Impact of Our Interventions in Gaza
Access to vital mental health services
Empowerment and emotional resilience
Community building and support
Skills development for mental health professionals
Job creation and professional fulfillment
Voices of Hope
Our participants' stories reveal the profound impact of Hakini’s mental health interventions in Gaza. These are just a few powerful reflections from those we’ve supported:
"I never lose hope in a brighter future. That's why I drew a flower for the future." – Ebrahim, Child Participant
"Our children were happy, and we saw them laughing and playing like they haven't in a long time." – Mother of a Child Participant
"I learned a lot, especially from the women's stories. Sharing their hardships made me feel lighter, and I eagerly attended each session." – Support Group Participant
Join Us
As we continue our critical work in Gaza, we remain committed to expanding our reach and deepening the impact of our mental health interventions.
But we can’t do it alone.
Your support—whether through direct contributions or by sharing our campaign with your network—can help us provide vital services to even more individuals and communities in need. Together, we can foster resilience, healing, and hope for a brighter future in Gaza.
Thank you for standing with us.
We would like to share with you this update on how your contribution has been instrumental in making a significant impact in Gaza and to thank you so much for supporting this important campaign.
The Benefit of Our mental health interventions in Gaza:
- Provide safe spaces for individuals to express their emotions and receive support.
- Equip participants with coping mechanisms and practical tools for resilience.
- Offer personalized sessions for in-depth support and guidance.
- Conduct training programs to enhance skills and knowledge among mental health professionals.
- Empower personnel with essential skills for crisis intervention and contribute to the capacity building.
Your support has played a pivotal role in addressing the complex situation that stresses the huge psychosocial needs of Gazan people, particularly children, and women, and contributed to supporting the mental health of our targeted audience in Gaza amidst ongoing war.
So far more than 3,500 people in Gaza were supported through our different mental health activities and interventions in the Strip.
Observations & Insights from our Activities on the Ground
- Displaced individuals are facing exacerbated problems due to the uncertainty and lack of prospects for returning to their homes. There is continuous concern about the fate of their families and loved ones who are still in the north, enduring deliberate starvation and inhumane living conditions. Many of them are experiencing symptoms of anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder.
- The haunting uncertainty of what might happen if Rafah is invaded continues to weigh heavily on their minds, creating immense pressure as they contemplate where they might go next in the event of such an invasion.
- Important challenges related to personal security, privacy, poverty, and the inability to meet daily needs for themselves and their children due to exorbitant prices further exacerbate their situation. Many spoke of the loss of their children, loved ones, homes, and many other belongings. The fear of further loss was prevalent in the conversations of both men and women during the sessions.
Psychological First Aid Training for Mental Health Professionals in Gaza
We have successfully conducted an intensive two days training on Psychological First Aid for 23 social workers in Gaza. The participants actively engaged in sessions covering vital topics such as defining psychological first aid, understanding its significance in comprehensive response efforts, and learning about essential communication skills that can help the trainees support others during times of ongoing war and crisis.
Hakini underscores the recognition of mental health as a fundamental component of supporting our people in Gaza, while we understand that the access to basic needs such as shelter and safety, food and medical supplies are the priority for our people who are facing hunger and war in Gaza, we found that our support through mental health interventions including support groups, workshops and entertainment activities enable our targeted audience in the Strip to express themselves, their emotions, feelings and get the chance to be heard and self discharge during these terrible times. Your contribution has been instrumental in promoting mental well-being, social cohesion and community empowerment, and we expect that such support would have a positive long term impact.
Stories & Testimonials from the Ground:
With your help and support, we will continue providing important mental health interventions for parents and children in Gaza, with the hope that when time gets better we will see a positive impact as a result of our current mental health interventions in Gaza.
Please consider making a donation today and join us in our commitment in supporting people and fostering resilience for our people in Gaza.
Your donation, can make a real difference, and it would be really helpful to consider sharing this campaign with your friends, colleagues and your network and help us increase the impact in reaching more people who can benefit from our mental health programs in Gaza.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
The Hakini Team
In the heart of Gaza, where hope often feels like a distant dream amidst the turmoil, your support has been a beacon of light, guiding us as we strive to provide vital mental health interventions to those who need it most. Today, I reach out to you knowing that together, we can continue making a profound difference in the lives of those affected by the ongoing war.
Since we started providing mental health interventions on the ground in Gaza we were able to support more than 3,000 individuals and touch the lives of countless families in Gaza. We've been able to offer crucial emotional support, provide positive coping mechanisms, and foster a sense of empowerment and community among our targeted audience in Gaza. This happened through support groups, one-on-one counseling sessions and helping people to get access for food, water, medication, shelters and access to other basic supplies through our referral system.
“The workshop passed quickly due to the high level of engagement from the women. It concluded with a singing session. The participants responded very positively, enthusiastically clapping and singing along. Upon completion, they requested another workshop, expressing, 'Honestly, we enjoyed it and forgot for a while about the difficult situation we are in. Please come again.” - Quote from Hakini's Mental Health Professional in Gaza.
How our activities contributed to the mental health and well-being of people that we reached in Gaza:
- Emotional Support: Our workshops have provided a safe haven for women and children, allowing them to express their emotions and begin the journey towards healing in the face of unimaginable challenges.
- Positive Coping Mechanisms: Through engaging activities such as art therapy and storytelling, participants have developed the tools needed to navigate stress and trauma, building resilience that will serve them long into the future.
- Community Building: Together, we've created a community where individuals can share their experiences, support one another, and find solace in knowing they are not alone.
- Empowerment: By participating in our support groups, women and children have reclaimed their sense of agency, emerging stronger and more resilient in the face of adversity.
“The residents of the neighboring building asked about our work. When we explained it to them, they requested us to conduct a workshop for them, including displaced children and women. The area has been targeted multiple times by the occupation, causing intense fear among its residents. Additionally, mothers expressed the need to learn certain activities to engage their children during times of bombing and fear." - Quote from Hakini's Mental Health Professional in Gaza.
Our work is far from over
As we look to the future, our priorities remain clear: to continue providing mental health support and interventions and increase our impact through reaching more people in the Gaza Strip.
Your continued support is instrumental in our mission to bring hope and healing to the people of Gaza. With your help, we can make a tangible difference in the lives of those who need it most. Please consider making a donation today and join us in our commitment to rebuilding lives and fostering resilience in the heart of Gaza.
Your donation, no matter the size, can make a real difference. Also, please consider sharing our cause with your friends and colleagues. Every share helps amplify our message and reach even more individuals in Gaza.
Thank you for your unwavering support.
Dear Supporter,
I hope this message finds you well. Today, I bring you a heartfelt update on the progress of our crowdfunding campaign, click here to access the report, and I want to express my deepest gratitude for your unwavering support.
🌍 In the Heart of Crisis: Your Commitment Unfolds
In the stark reality of the Gaza war, where lives are lost, and families endure displacement, your commitment resonates profoundly. As of January 22nd, 2024, over 24 thousand Palestinians have lost their lives, and 85% of the population has faced displacement multiple times. Amid these challenges, our dedication to providing mental health support remains steadfast—a response to the urgent demands of the situation.
🌈 From Focus to Expansion: Making Psychological Help Accessible
Our initial focus on assisting workers from Gaza in the West Bank, through support groups and the installation of a toll-free hotline, reflects our mission to make psychological help accessible. We've expanded our reach to shelters, schools, and tents, collaborating with a network of mental health professionals on the ground in Gaza. The journey is far from easy, and each step presents unique challenges, detailed in our report.
🌟 Your Contribution in Action: Impactful Milestones Achieved
What we've achieved is just the beginning. The profound impact of the Gaza war demands an intense and prolonged intervention to help people cope with ongoing trauma. Your generous contribution has already made a significant difference, supporting more than 946 people from Gaza through professional mental health interventions.
🤝 Continued Support: A Beacon of Hope
We believe in the endurance of this support until the people in Gaza can overcome this brutal situation. Your continued support is crucial in making a lasting impact on the lives of those affected.
Thank you for being a beacon of hope.
Warm regards,
🌹 Together, We Make a Difference 🌹
Dear Supporter,
I hope this message finds you well. Today, I bring you a heartfelt update on the progress of our crowdfunding campaign, click here to access the report, and I want to express my deepest gratitude for your unwavering support.
🌍 In the Heart of Crisis: Your Commitment Unfolds
In the stark reality of the Gaza war, where lives are lost, and families endure displacement, your commitment resonates profoundly. As of January 22nd, 2024, over 24 thousand Palestinians have lost their lives, and 85% of the population has faced displacement multiple times. Amid these challenges, our dedication to providing mental health support remains steadfast—a response to the urgent demands of the situation.
🌈 From Focus to Expansion: Making Psychological Help Accessible
Our initial focus on assisting workers from Gaza in the West Bank, through support groups and the installation of a toll-free hotline, reflects our mission to make psychological help accessible. We've expanded our reach to shelters, schools, and tents, collaborating with a network of mental health professionals on the ground in Gaza. The journey is far from easy, and each step presents unique challenges, detailed in our report.
🌟 Your Contribution in Action: Impactful Milestones Achieved
What we've achieved is just the beginning. The profound impact of the Gaza war demands an intense and prolonged intervention to help people cope with ongoing trauma. Your generous contribution has already made a significant difference, supporting more than 946 people from Gaza through professional mental health interventions.
🤝 Continued Support: A Beacon of Hope
We believe in the endurance of this support until the people in Gaza can overcome this brutal situation. Your continued support is crucial in making a lasting impact on the lives of those affected.
Thank you for being a beacon of hope.
Warm regards,
🌹 Together, We Make a Difference 🌹
Gaza continues to face an ongoing crisis, with over 22 thousand Palestinians killed and 85% of the population displaced multiple times. Families are forced to move in search of safety, creating an urgent need for mental health interventions.
Our team has been working tirelessly in supporting people from Gaza actively exploring innovative and effective approaches tailored to the unique challenges posed by the unusual circumstances that Gazan people are facing because of the ongoing war.
Our dedicated team, including four community managers in Gaza, is tirelessly organizing support groups in shelters across the Gaza Strip. The goal is to establish 60 support groups in 10 different shelters, spanning from the north to the south. Despite challenges, we are ensuring that vital activities, such as distributing food and providing access to clean water, accompany these support groups.
Next week, we'll finish our special 18 hours training to provide mental health support and psychological first aid through our toll-free hotline. We're excited to share that this training was led by highly experienced mental health professionals from Palestine, experts with years of experience in helping people in Gaza. These professionals will keep supporting us as we provide mental health services to the people in Gaza, guiding our team with their supervision.
This training, led by Dr. Fathi Flefel, Ms. Juman Mazzawi, and Mr. Hasan Faraj, equipped 20 mental health professionals for phone-based support. It covered theoretical aspects relevant to Palestine, including Gaza's context, shared experiences from professionals who provided aid for people from Gaza in the past, incorporated role-playing and real-life scenarios, and familiarized participants with hotline guidelines and their responsibilities. After completion, we'll publish our hotline guideline for accessibility to other organizations in Palestine interested in supporting the people of Gaza.
We continue to assist Gazan workers and families in the West Bank through private counseling and support groups, collaborating with our community of mental health professionals. Some workers and families from Gaza in the West Bank require access to basic needs and medications, and we've provided necessary support, including psychiatric intervention when needed. Our support groups, launched in partnership with Sharek Youth Forum for Gaza residents in the West Bank, involve full-day activities starting at 10:00 am with coffee and snacks, facilitated by our mental health professionals and volunteers. The sessions conclude with a shared meal before participants return to their shelters.
Through our experience in providing psychological support to individuals from Gaza, we've identified a preference for text messaging consultations, when applicable, this is due to the crowded shelters. In response, we've developed an advanced system to offer counseling services through WhatsApp.
Despite challenges, we have supported 300 people so far and aim to increase this number to 1,500 with your continued support.
Your generous contributions are not just helping us assist people today, they are laying the foundation for a resilient group of mental health professionals ready to support our people from Gaza now and in the future.
Please consider sharing our campaign and continuing your support to help us increase our impact and build a sustainable approach for mental health services and interventions for our people from Gaza.
Thank you once again for being a crucial part of this campaign. We will keep you posted on our progress.
We are thrilled to provide an extended update on the progress and impact achieved through your generous contributions to the Hakini crowdfunding campaign. Your support has been instrumental in propelling us toward our objectives, creating a tangible difference in the lives of those we aim to help in Palestine specifically in the West Bank & Gaza.
Training Mental Health Professionals:
Our team has successfully initiated specialized training for 20 mental health professionals in Palestine. This training equips them to provide crucial psychological first aid and support through our toll-free hotline, serving as a lifeline for those in Gaza facing war and very challenging circumstances. After the training is completed we will publish the hotline guidelines and principals to be accessible for the public, the first version will be in Arabic and later on we will work on the English version.
Building Infrastructure for the Hotline:
Recognizing the hardships people in Gaza endure, we understand the importance of a safe environment, access to necessities, and medical supplies. Your donations have empowered us to establish a robust infrastructure for the hotline. This development was achieved in collaboration with experienced mental health professionals well-versed in managing hotlines in vulnerable areas.
Supporting Gaza Employees:
Thanks to your contributions, we've supported 200 employees from Gaza through Sharek Youth Forum, utilizing support groups to provide essential mental health assistance during these challenging times. Currently, as many of the employees have returned to Gaza, we are exploring ways to continue supporting them in the future. Currently there are 300 employees staying in Jericho and somee of them are in need for advanced mental health support. Hakini is working closely with mental health professionals and psychiatrists who are going to help them through the process.
Community of Mental Health Professionals:
Your generosity has enabled us to build a strong community of over 170 mental health professionals in Palestine. These dedicated individuals are actively contributing their expertise and time to enhance access to mental health services in the West Bank and Gaza. The community is engaged in capacity building, conducting trainings and webinars for individuals in the West Bank and Gaza. Moreover, they are volunteering in various initiatives aimed at promoting mental health services in Palestine.
As part of our awareness campaigns about mental health and well-being we've initiated webinars, workshops, and trainings on trauma-informed parenting, and hosted special guests to discuss mental health challenges during times of war and crisis.
Next Steps:
Looking ahead, we plan to collaborate with humanitarian organizations addressing basic needs such as food, water, and medical supplies. Together, we aim to establish a robust referral system, providing comprehensive support to our fellow citizens from Gaza. This integrated approach addresses not only immediate needs but also mental health, paving the way for a return to normalcy in the future.
Your continued support is invaluable to us, and we eagerly anticipate updating you on further developments as we strive to make a lasting impact on mental health services in Palestine.
We would like to thank each one of you who participated and contributed to this important campaign. So far we provided support groups for 150 people from Gaza, currently staying in thee West Bank and are not able to go back home.
Our toll free hotline # is 1800 200 800, before launching the hotline for the public and targeted audience in Palestine the Hakini team is going to complete the following steps:
1. Initiate a need assessment meeting with mental health professionals who already have previous experience in providing psychological support through hotlines or psychological first aid.
2. Train a group of first listeners and mental health professionals to be ready for working with us on the hotline.
3. Announce the hotline to the public in collaboration with organizations and individuals who are active on the ground and could reach our targeted audience.
Campaign Update
We want to express our sincere gratitude for your generous contributions to our campaign aimed at establishing a psychological first aid hotline for the people in the Gaza Strip. Thanks to your support, we have successfully raised over $36,000, which will enable us to provide psychological first aid and support to more than 1,000 individuals in Gaza.
We are pleased to provide you with an update on our progress. We have signed a contract with JAWWAL- Paltel Group, a key partner that will assist us with the technical aspects of the hotline's implementation. Additionally, we are collaborating with them to send SMS messages to inform people in the Gaza Strip about the hotline's launch and how to access its services.
This week, we initiated the first support group in collaboration with the Sharek Youth Forum for 25 employees from Gaza who are currently living in the West Bank. This initiative is a critical part of our efforts, and we aim to extend support to up to 700 employees currently residing in Ramallah. In collaboration with Sharek Youth Forum, on November 1st, Hakini provided specialized training to 25 volunteers who will offer psychological first aid to Gaza Strip workers displaced to the West Bank after being forced to leave their permanent jobs by the Israeli government starting from October 7th, with no possibility of returning to Gaza.
The next phase involves actively training the first group of listeners and volunteers from the faculties of medicine, psychology, and nursing, to be ready to establish the hotline. Your continued support is essential as we work to expand access to mental health services in the region.
Next Phase:
Our primary goal is to raise the campaign amount to $60,000, and we need your support to achieve this target. By reaching this funding milestone, we will be able to significantly enhance our impact and expand access to crucial mental health services in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. This increased funding will enable us to provide a broader range of services, including long-term therapy and counseling. Our ultimate mission is to reach as many individuals as possible, extending vital mental health support to those in need. Your contributions are crucial in helping us realize this vision.