Layan’s Story: Finding Her Voice Again

For 11-year-old Layan, leaving Gaza meant carrying the grief of losing someone she loved deeply.

“The person I miss the most from Gaza is my uncle. He lost his life during the war.”

The loss changed her everyday life. She remembers spending most of her time at home, with little desire to go outside, to eat or even to talk.

“I used to stay inside the house all the time. I didn’t go out. Most of the time, I would just sit and cry.”

Then Layan joined the center established by FAJR Global and INARA, and something slowly began to shift. At first it was the activities and games that caught her attention. Then came the friendships.

“When I first came to the center, I felt very happy because there were so many activities and games. I came here to make friends again and play with them.”

Her psychosocial specialist, Sara Montaser, remembers a quieter Layan in those early days. She preferred to listen rather than speak, and she rarely felt comfortable saying what she wanted. Over time, Sara saw a different side of her.

“Now, she has developed a strong sense of confidence. She communicates much more clearly and comfortably, and she is able to express herself and say exactly what she wants.”

Somewhere along the way, Layan discovered drawing. What began as an activity became a place to put her feelings on paper when words were hard to find.

“Drawing helps me release my feelings. And I discovered that I actually have a talent for it that I didn’t know about before.”

Her father, Ashraf, has seen the change too. He says the center gave Layan the chance to meet other children, form friendships and nurture a talent that had been waiting to be discovered.

Today, Layan describes the center as a place where she can play, spend time with friends, draw and feel happy. Her story is not about forgetting what she lost. It is about learning to move forward while carrying it.

Read about A Mental Health Center for Gaza’s Children and FAJR’s mental health program.