West Bank and Gaza, Palestine, 2017

Creation of Kurdish-Arabic books as bridges between communities

The fourth and fifth Kitabna books were commissioned in preparation for “Kitabna Storytelling Training”  workshops for teachers in Khanke Camp, Duhok focusing on community cohesion, writing for peace and book-making in IDP camps populated by people displaced by ISIS. 

Where are we working now?

Lebanon, 2014-16

Jordan, 2015-2018

Past projects

Founding of Kitabna and early development of storytelling workshops across Lebanon, with civil society organisations and international organisations, including:
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AVSI Foundation, Lebanon (Nabatiyeh locations)
- “Kitabna Storytelling Training” 3-day training for field staff and teachers in Nabatiyeh working with Syrian communities, focusing on storytelling games and tackling illiteracy in informal tented settlements.

The Norwegian Refugee Council, Lebanon (Tripoli and Beqqa Valley locations)
- “Kitabna Storytelling Training” 1-day training series for field staff and teachers in the Syrian refugee response, focusing on storytelling games and practices.

 World Vision, Lebanon (Marjaoun and Beqaa Valley locations)
- “Kitabna Storytelling Training” 1-day training series for field staff and teachers in the Syrian refugee response, focusing on storytelling activities and writing in informal tented settlements camps.

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Bethlehem and Gaza story-writing workshops for education staff, and creation of child-friendly illustrations and design layout for the University of Tromsø and NRC’s “Better Learning Programme” manuals

Engaging with psychosocial materials and tools for emotional distress linked to post-traumatic stress disorder in contexts experiencing ongoing violent conflict. Adapting tools and scenarios as visual aids.

Working with the Education Authority to create bilingual Arabic-English storybooks for Syrian children resettled in Ireland

Development of story to  help teachers in Northern Ireland integrate Syrian refugee communities resettled with the UK government’s Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Scheme (VPRS). Creation of two children’s books for Key Stage1-2, and graphic novel for Key stage 3.

This led to further development of curriculum packs for Key Stages 1-3, created in workshops held with teachers from across Northern Ireland. These resources can be found in the Kitabna Online Library, and on the EA's VPRS resource page.

Northern Ireland, 2019-20 

Creation of anthology of Syrian teachers' stories in refugee camps in Jordan

Illustration and publication of an anthology of stories written by Syrian teachers in storywriting workshops delivered between 2015 and 2017 in Zaatari and Azraq camps, Jordan. Subsequent creation of digital app version of 2017 anthology written by Syrian teachers, including English and Arabic audio accompaniment and touchable soundscapes for tablet/computer. 

Syria, 2019

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Creation of anthology of Syrian children's stories in IDP camps in al Hasekeh province 
(Al Hole, Mabrouka, Ain Essa IDP Camps)

- “Kitabna Story-writing Training” 4 x 3-day capacity-building story-writing workshops for field staff and teachers in IDP camps in north-east Syria, enabling story-writing with children.
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First stage delivery of creative capacity-building trainings for teachers living in four internally displaced persons camps in north-east Syria. Second stage illustration and publication of an anthology of stories written by Syrian children following the trainings.

Iraq, 2015