المجلس الفلسطيني لكتب اليافعين

This was published on the IBBY website under the IBBY Palestine National section page

https://www.ibby.org/fileadmin/user_upload/Our_children_and_the_Covid__3_.pdf

I now Play with my Father

Noor 13 years

My dear father I write to you to tell you that I felt your presence more and this is because of the Corona virus. Do not be surprised, for I considered my father a secondary person in the house although he provides for us all our needs and he goes through a lot of tiresome time to provide our food in these tough circumstances in Gaza. But during lockdown I felt how nice my father is and how close to me he is. I started spending time with him. His occupations and work had kept him away from us before. My father started to help us in house work, also he draws with me, dances and plays with my toys. How strange this world is, it is true that something bad can turn out good!

We can Conquer the Corona!

Mahmoud Age: 16 years

When the Corona pandemic started to spread I was very worried because the whole world is ignorant of this fatal fast spreading pandemic. Ever since it became dangerous, threatening all places in the world especially Gaza, I started to think and research about this virus. There are people who say it is a virus others who say it is an economic game, and still others who are ignorant about it. I feared it more than anything to the extent I felt that I was psychologically damaged.

However, after the passing of two months of lockdown and preventive measures implemented, I became calmer and started returning to normal. I was not reassured until I knew that my weapon is in my hand; that my prevention, self protection and the protection of others are in my hand. So, I started doing what I like but with all necessary health measures. \Now I feel that this matter will vanish and we will remember it someday and will write about it.

We Competed in Reading, Played and Illustrated

Muhammad Age 12 years

All the time we are at home during lockdown. At the beginning of the event I used to spend most of the time sleeping but after I communicated with the IBBY librarian in the Ataa organization and she said they can send us stories, books and papers to draw while we are home, I was very happy and I started along with my sister Rouya to borrow the stories and read them. We competed in reading, played and illustrated. We did not feel that our free time was lost and we benefited a lot.

Now I love reading more than before!

Fadi Age 10 years

Since the beginning of the lockdown my mother was recording educational videos for us to communicate with the teacher, she would explain the lessons which we missed at school. After we finished the school curriculum, we felt bored but we followed instructions on how to spend our free time in an appropriate way. So I did sports, I helped my mother in housework, drew and read stories which we received at home from the IBBY librarian. I felt very happy that I now love reading more than before!

Siege, Poverty and the Corona

Abdullah Age 13 years

I live in an extended family, we live in one house and my father is the provider for us. Without Corona my father could barely provide our daily bread by selling some lupine.

When the lockdown was announced I heard my father and mother talking about how we will eat and drink without work and we are in lockdown. But I carried to them good news, I heard in the news that the government will distribute what is necessary for the families during lockdown. My mother and father laughed and it was not a happy laugh and my mother said we are under siege and suffering hunger and tragedy since a long time and no one helped us and no one can.

I was very sad, but my father said we still have the UNRWA card and we will carefully use the food.

The most important thing is that God protected Gaza from Corona during the siege. After a while, we decided to make a small table to sell lupine in our house and we would clean well all our things. There were only a few people who were buying because of the situation. However, we cannot but thank God, for this is our situation since a long time!

Corona: no School, no Friends no Internet!

Farah Age 12 Years

I feel very sad because all places are closed. Even the school which is the only place I see my friends and learn. The school is the place where I meet my closest friend Hanan.

Now without school, market, and business, even the seller of cotton candy closed his place. I feel miserable when I speak with the neighbor Dana from the window she says she is happy in the lockdown, because she has internet to talk to her friends. I wish this virus had not come to have mercy on me, on my school and friends.

However, I was happy when they announced that school will resume in August, and I will see you my dear friend soon without sickness or a virus!

Corona and the Environment

Salah Age 14 years

All of us are annoyed at this cursed killer; but when I think deeply and I see that communications travel, movement and industries have stopped and pollution has decreased!

I say that this virus is both a blessing and a curse because it spared the sky and earth and the ozone. The pollution which is coming from industrial countries and the smoke of the factories has decreased. The sky, earth, the trees, people and even animals had their share of pure air, we and all the creatures of the environment breathed away from most of the sources of pollution. It does not mean that this virus is good, it is fatal, and we must all unite in its face by prevention, protection and lockdown.

Afraid for my Father who is a Doctor

Iman Age 11 years

When they took my father to the quarantine center the house became depressed and I cried a lot but my mother reassured me. We spoke to each other that my father’s career as a doctor made him among the first to defend us all against this illness, after he was treating people in lockdown. I was scared and not reassured until he finished lockdown and came back to us in good health. He told us of the danger of the virus and that prevention and staying home is protection for us, for the country and others.