Preparing Future Educators

At Bethlehem University, students in the Faculty of Education are exploring child development not only through textbooks and theory, but also through the realities shaping the lives of children in Palestine today.

As part of the course Development and Growth of Children, taught by Ms. Sabah Ikmayes, students participated in three service-learning activities connected to the University’s broader “Rising from the Rubble” initiative. The program was designed to help students examine the developmental, psychological, and social challenges facing children affected by war while connecting classroom learning to current humanitarian realities.

The first activity, organized in collaboration with UNICEF Gaza, focused on child protection and the challenges facing children experiencing multiple vulnerabilities in Gaza. Students explored the impact of conflict on children’s development and learned about humanitarian efforts aimed at supporting their well-being.

A second event featured representatives from SOS Children’s Villages Bethlehem, who shared their experience supporting children transferred from Gaza to Bethlehem during the war. The discussion provided students with insight into the challenges facing displaced children and explored how psychosocial and institutional support systems contribute to restoring emotional well-being and stability for vulnerable children.

The third activity brought together Muslim and Christian religious leaders to discuss the role of spirituality in times of conflict. Through this dialogue, students explored how spirituality, faith, and meaning-making can function as protective and coping mechanisms in children’s psychological development under conditions of extreme stress.

Together, these experiences encouraged students to consider child development through a broader lens—one that includes not only developmental theory, but also the humanitarian, social, and spiritual realities affecting children and families. Through initiatives such as Rising from the Rubble, Bethlehem University is preparing future educators who are equipped to respond thoughtfully and compassionately to the needs of their communities.