Sard: Stories of Adversity, Resilience and Determination - 2026

Byline Palestine aims to empower young Palestinian men by providing them with the tools and platform to share their stories with a global audience. 12-16 young men, living in the West Bank, aged between 18 to 20-years-old, will work in pairs to take part in an intensive journalistic course. It will offer a unique opportunity for participants to take ownership of their own editorial content and equip them, step by step, with the vital skills necessary to create a broadcast quality package. Each pair will be closely mentored and given the opportunity to participate in a series of expert workshops focussing on topics from project planning to writing for broadcast and interview skills. Byline Palestine builds on See Solve Learn's previous success with its English Express project which worked with pupils in three schools in East Jerusalem to offer language sessions by harnessing a team of native speaking volunteers. It is uniquely placed with expertise and contacts in both education and newsgathering to offer those taking part a rich experience with potential to learn skills which could help them in a future career. 

Find more about Sophie Ruane’s work here.  

"Byline Palestine is about more than just journalism; it’s about giving young men at a critical crossroads in their lives the agency to take control of their own narratives. By mastering the tools of global communication, they aren't just learning English—they are ensuring the world hears their voices, their traditions, and their truths, directly from the source."  

— Sophie Ruane, Founder of See Solve Learn

This project by Khazaaen aims to transform the memory preserved in the archive from documents, photographs, testimonies, letter, diaries and publications into living voices that express the Palestinian human experience and reach a wide audience. By documenting these stories in narrative form and publishing them in both Arabic and English, the project ensures that Palestinian memory is not only safeguarded but also made present, accessible, and alive, whether for those in Palestine or in the diaspora, for Arabic speakers or English readers alike. At its heart, Writing Through the Archive is an interactive journey. It invites 10 - 15 young Palestinians to engage deeply with the archive, equipping them with tools for writing, archival exploration, story investigation, and narrative extraction. Through this process, participants will learn not only to write articles in Arabic and English, but also to carry forward the voices of their people with dignity, creativity, and authenticity. 

To know more about Khazaaen click here.  

"When young people take part in documenting the story of their community and homeland, it becomes a message of hope that revives the past to build the future".  

Mrs. Alaa Qaq, Project Lead

This project led by Prof Khader Khader, the Islamic University of Gaza, Palestine & Dr Khawla Badwan, Manchester Metropolitan University, UK adopts the livingness of storying to include story curation from communities, story elicitation, story illustration, story creation, story translation, story dissemination, and story as education. As such, we understand stories as dynamic cultural artefacts that are alive and in interaction with society’s experiences and aspirations. Working with English language learners currently completing an undergraduate degree in English Literature and Linguistics at the Islamic University of Gaza, the project entails (1) rigorous empirical work of story curation and creation, (2) groundbreaking conceptual thinking that contributes to ongoing scholarly work on language in times of unspeakability and cultural erasure, (3) creative improvisations of narrative genres that collate storied experiences and (4) stories for English education that preserves dignity, honours cultural justice and develops civic resilience. 

Find out more about Khawla Badwan here, and about Dr.Khader here. 

"The project explores and demonstrates what language does when it resists its erasure, and how language education can contribute to cultural justice and reparative work in pursuit of fairer presents and futures."

Dr. Khawla and Dr. Khader

Tile Tales is a creative learning project led by Tashkeel, an eco-friendly art workshop space based in Nablus. The project brings together children from Askar Refugee Camp to explore storytelling, identity, and language through ceramic tile-making, filmmaking, and play-based English learning. 

Rooted in Tashkeel’s experience working with children in Nablus, Tile Tales invites participants to use English not as a classroom subject, but as a living tool for expression. Through drawing, making, movement, and collaboration, children will build confidence in their ability to communicate, imagine, and share their own narratives. 

The programme moves from the personal to the collective. Children begin by exploring their immediate surroundings, then expand into shared cultural spaces, local craft traditions, and community stories. Along the way, they create individual tiles, work in teams to produce short films, and contribute to a collective installation that reflects their voices and experiences. 

Bringing together craft, storytelling, and language, Tile Tales creates a space where creativity and communication grow side by side, and where every child can find their way into expression. 

 Check out Tashkeel Instagram.

“In a place where stories are often unheard, Tile Tales gives children the tools to shape and share their own. Through clay, language, and collaboration, they build not only skills, but a sense of voice and belonging.” 

Wasan Qaraman, Creative Director

This project by Al Hamawi Education Center in Bethany works with 36 adolescent girls aged 12–16 (divided into two cohorts of 18), prioritising participants who face economic barriers, limited access to safe creative spaces, and struggles to express themselves in English. 

English StoryLab — Girls’ Digital Stories from East Jerusalem is a digital storytelling programme that uses English as a tool for voice, confidence, and creative expression. The project provides a safe and supportive environment for girls in East Jerusalem to explore their identities and lived experiences through storytelling. 

Participants develop personal narratives focused on identity and resilience, using digital tools to create heartfelt stories that will later be shared with the public. The programme strengthens English language skills while empowering girls to share their voices, perspectives, and experiences with wider audiences in meaningful and creative ways. 

Find out more on Al Hamawi Center Website.

"What makes this project special is how it brings together creativity, passion, and skill-building. In Palestine, creativity and self-expression are often overlooked because of the realities our country faces, despite how essential they are for the growth and empowerment of young people. Through storytelling, film, and the English language, participants are given the opportunity to discover their voices, share their stories with the world, and build connections that go beyond limitations."

 Alaa Abuhilal, Project Manager 

This project by the Teacher Creativity Center works with five schools across the West Bank, including vulnerable areas in Bethlehem and Hebron, reaching around 200 students aged 13–15, alongside 10 teachers and 10 media students at BA or Master level. 

Siti’s Stories: Palestinian Heritage, Memory, and Lived Experience is a school-based storytelling project that invites students to explore Palestinian heritage through intergenerational narratives centred on the figure of “Siti” (grandmother). The project uses storytelling, English language, and media production as tools for reflection, creativity, and expression. 

Participants will engage in guided learning activities that connect oral history and lived experience with creative writing and media storytelling. Through this process, students develop English language skills while producing creative outputs that celebrate identity, memory, and cultural heritage, strengthening their sense of belonging and voice within their communities. 

Find out more through the TCC website. 

“Through Siti’s Stories, we are not only preserving Palestinian heritage—we are creating a living bridge between generations. By empowering students to listen, reflect, and tell stories in their own voices, this project nurtures identity, strengthens belonging, and transforms memory into a powerful tool for learning and expression.” 

Osama Zamil, Programs’ Manager, Teacher Creativity Center (TCC)

This project, led by Dr Ahmed Kamal Junina, builds on the success of Resilient Voices, a digital storytelling initiative that enabled young Palestinians to share their experiences in English through an online platform. This new project will support 25 young writers from Gaza to develop original short stories in English through workshops, mentoring, and editorial feedback, helping them strengthen their language skills, creative expression, and confidence. The project will culminate in a professionally edited anthology manuscript, alongside selected excerpts, interviews, and recorded readings to be shared through the Resilient Voices website. Bringing together a dedicated and award-winning training team from Australia, Palestine, Taiwan, the UK, and the USA, the project offers participants a rich and inspiring learning community grounded in international expertise, creative guidance, and compassionate support. Through this combination of storytelling, mentoring, and public dissemination, Writing Gaza Within creates space for young Palestinians to tell their stories in their own voice and contribute to a living cultural archive from Gaza.  

Read more about Resilient Voices.

“Through storytelling, young people in Gaza are finding a way to speak their truth, make sense of their experiences, and be heard.”  

 Ahmed Kamal Junina, Project Lead and Editor

This is an oral history and audio documentary initiative by Nuwah, a creative studio specializing in the art of audio storytelling. Building on Nuwah’s extensive experience in professional narrative production, this project empowers young Palestinians to document their lives and collective memory through the immersive medium of sound. 

The project provides a professional space for participants to master the crafts of storytelling, field recording, and audio production , documenting real voices and lived experiences through the craft of sound By engaging directly with their communities, participants are taken on a comprehensive production journey, transforming oral testimonies into high-quality audio documentaries. Utilizing English as a tool for global advocacy, the project reaches young Palestinians wherever they are, equipping them with the technical and narrative skills to share authentic, human-centered stories with an international audience. 

Find out more about Nuwah.

“At Nuwah, we see the human voice as the most authentic archive of lived experience. By mastering the art of the audio documentary, our youth aren't just sharing stories ,  they're taking back the power to tell them.” 

 Nuwah Team

This project is a creative collaboration between Palestinian artist and English teacher Luzan Mattar and world storyteller and English language educator David Heathfield.  

The project brings to life the voices and creativity of young Palestinians in Gaza by enabling them to tell their own personal stories and transform them artistically into short creative animated films in English. These will be made into meaningful English learning materials for students in Palestine and worldwide. 

Animating Gaza Stories is a project rooted in storytelling, creativity, education, Palestinian identity and experience, and emerging design technology. It provides a platform for young Palestinians to tell their stories, express their suffering and hopes, share their culture and imagination, and gain confidence in English. 

Learn more about Luzan’s work here. Read more about David Heathfield here. 

“Animated storytelling works for our students in Gaza – developing their language skills, unlocking their creative potential and teaching them respect for one another. I always tell my students they should never give up. Whatever happens they should try.”  

Luzan Mattar, Project Lead

The Palestinian Stories Beyond Borders project will empower 60 young Palestinian creatives from Gaza and the West Bank to share their stories with global audiences through English. Led by Leyan Zahdeh and Esah Bannister, the programme combines English language development with creative practice in game design, digital art, and podcast production.  

Over 12 weeks, participants will develop English communication skills through creative workshops delivered entirely in English. They will produce original creative works that reflect their personal experiences, cultural heritage, and contemporary Palestinian life.  

Participants will produce: Narrative-based digital games, digital artworks with English artist statements and English-language podcast episodes  

The programme will conclude with a public showcase of their digital games, artwork and recorded podcasts alongside the launch of an ongoing podcast, increasing participants’ visibility and enabling them to share their stories with local and international audiences.  

Find out more about Leyan here and know more about Esah here. 

“Through storytelling, creativity, and language, we are creating space for Palestinian voices to be heard, understood, and connected beyond borders.”  

Leyan Zahdeh & Esah Bannister