Educators show up for children who are suffering. We show up when there is war, oppression, or genocide. We show up when basic rights to safety and education are threatened. For students in our own communities as well as those around the world, we show up because we believe that all the children are our children. 

Today, over 85% of the educational infrastructure of Gaza has been damaged and 503 educational staff members have been killed. Nevertheless, Gazan educators have been showing up for their students. Makeshift classrooms are going up in tents amongst the rubble. Children are being brought together to play, create and learn. The normalcy of school brings a much needed respite from ongoing trauma and allows students to continue their social, emotional, and academic development. 

Gazan educators have called for material support from international organizations to help expand their work. Students need notebooks, computers, and writing utensils, as well as psychological and emotional support. The Gazan education system will be rebuilt by Gazans, but international organizations play a key role in supporting that work. By funding organizations like HEAL Palestine, we seek to help provide some of that material aid that is so desperately needed. 

Unfortunately, it is up to individual educators to heed this call for support, because the professional unions we belong to have not stepped up like they have in other crisis situations. The American Federation of Teachers (AFT), one of the world’s largest education unions, sent delegates four times to Ukraine and held fundraisers in schools across the United States to help the Ukrainian education system, but has done nothing to help Gaza. Even as we fundraise ourselves, we call on the AFT, NEA and other local unions to mobilize to give Gaza the same kind of support they gave Ukraine. 

Thank you for stepping up for the children of Gaza. We urge all educators to get involved in the movement for Gaza and all of Palestine. Join an organization, attend a meeting, build your network.