16/07/2026
The journey to Al Tafawk Kindergarten begins before sunrise for both the children and the staff and their journey is not an easy one.
When families were still living in the camp, most children could simply walk to the Center on their own. Today, the residents of the camp remain displaced, having been expelled by the Israeli military. The families who once lived there remain scattered across the outskirts of the city, staying wherever they can find shelter. Walking to Kindergarten is no longer possible.
For these young children, the journey on foot would be too long and too dangerous. They could encounter soldiers or settlers, and the route itself is difficult, with rough ground, derelict buildings and packs of wild dogs.
Instead, the children are taken to Al Tafawk by minibus or car. This ride will take an hour or so as the bus cannot travel directly to the Center, but use side roads to avoid checkpoints and blocked roads.
Each morning, members of staff and volunteers walk from place to place, collecting children and escorting them to one of four designated meeting points. There, they wait together for the transport to take them safely to the Center.
The bus arrives at around six o'clock in the morning, before the city begins to stir. At that hour, there is a greater chance of travelling before soldiers are active on the streets.
Yet even in these circumstances, dignity endures.
Each day the children arrive at Al Tafawk clean, neatly dressed and lovingly cared for—a reflection of the pride their families continue to hold. As the bus pulls up, the children's excitement is unmistakable. They dance, laugh and rush to greet it, despite everything they have to endure.
