Children in the Nuseirat refugee camp are using weekly breakdancing sessions to cope with the trauma of the Gaza war [1].
These activities provide a critical psychological outlet for children living in tents and displaced by conflict. By offering a sense of normalcy and physical release, the program helps youth manage the mental toll of prolonged instability.
Instructor Fayez Saraj leads the sessions in the Nuseirat refugee camp [1]. The program is not a new development; it existed before the war erupted in 2023 [2]. However, the sessions have become more important as the conflict has persisted and more children have been displaced into the camp system [1].
The children gather weekly to learn the demanding physical movements of breakdancing [1]. These sessions serve as a therapeutic activity, allowing participants to find moments of relief and support amid the surrounding destruction [1]. For many of the students, the dance floor is one of the few places where they can experience a temporary reprieve from the realities of war [1].
Saraj said he focuses on providing a structured environment where children can express themselves. The physical nature of the dance allows them to channel stress and anxiety into a productive skill, one that fosters resilience and community among the displaced youth [1].
“Weekly breakdancing sessions give Gaza’s children a therapeutic outlet to cope with war-related trauma.”
The use of breakdancing as a therapeutic tool highlights the necessity of psychosocial support in conflict zones. When formal mental health infrastructure is destroyed or unavailable, community-led physical activities often become the primary mechanism for children to process trauma and maintain cognitive and emotional development.
