Nadia Al-Sakkakini

Palestinian educator establishing schools for girls in Gaza despite ongoing conflict

Founding Moments

Nadia Al-Sakkakini (b. 1978 in Gaza City) grew up in a family of educators. After completing her education in Jerusalem, she returned to Gaza in 2003 to teach in refugee camps. Witnessing the gender disparity in education, she founded the Gaza Girls' Institute in 2019 - the first all-girls school in Khan Younis.

Challenges and Triumphs

Operating under constant electricity shortages and military curfews, Al-Sakkakini developed Mobile Learning Units - converted buses equipped with solar-powered classrooms. Her EduBus initiative now serves over 2,000 students weekly. The institute's STEM program has produced 75% female university entrants in engineering and computer science fields.

Innovative Teaching Methods

Al-Sakkakini introduced Project-Based Learning curricula focusing on conflict resolution and sustainable development. Her Virtual Reality Classroom project, funded by UNESCO grants, simulates global cultural experiences for students isolated by borders. The institute's Girls in Tech competition has inspired regional robotics teams.

Recognition and Legacy

In 2022, Al-Sakkakini received the Malala Fund Prize for education advocacy. Her memoir ''The Walls Have Ears: Teaching in Gaza'' became a bestseller in Arabic literature. A documentary film series ''Lessons in the Shadows'' (2024) chronicles her work, currently streaming on National Geographic.