In a world where conflict disrupts even the simplest routines, education becomes a daily battle for many children. In Palestine, two young students face overwhelming challenges just to reach their school, navigating an environment filled with uncertainty and fear. Their journey is not just a physical one—it is an emotional and psychological struggle, marked by distressing encounters that manifest as nightmares long after the school day ends.
To shed light on this reality and highlight the impact of the Better Learning Program (BLP), I embarked on an ambitious animation project. The film tells the story of these children’s resilience and how BLP helps them overcome their trauma and reclaim their dreams.
1. Understanding the Story & Research
Before diving into production, I conducted extensive research on the psychological effects of conflict on children. Collaborating with experts from the Better Learning Program, I gained insights into how trauma impacts sleep, concentration, and emotional well-being. This deep understanding guided my storytelling approach, ensuring authenticity in depicting the children’s struggles and the program’s interventions.
2. Script Development & Storyboarding
I developed a compelling narrative that follows two young students as they navigate their daily route to school, encountering moments of fear, uncertainty, and distress. Their internal battles—manifested in recurring nightmares—became a core visual theme.
With a structured script in place, I created a detailed storyboard, mapping out every scene to establish the emotional beats of the story. Each frame was carefully designed to capture the stark contrast between the external dangers of the real world and the internal fears of the children’s dreams.
3. Visual Development & Animation Style
I chose a hand-drawn animation style with a muted yet expressive color palette to evoke the gravity of the situation while maintaining a sense of hope. The transitions between reality and dream sequences were carefully crafted using fluid motion and symbolic elements. Shadows and light played a significant role in representing fear and comfort, with the Better Learning Program’s intervention visually depicted as a warm, guiding presence.
4. Audio Editing & Sound Engineering
To further immerse the audience, I used audio editing and sound engineering of the real voices recorded by NRC staff with children to bring authenticity to the characters. The sound design combined ambient street noises, distant echoes of conflict, and soft, soothing music to enhance emotional impact. The nightmares were depicted through eerie, distorted audio, contrasting with the calm and reassuring tones introduced by BLP’s supportive techniques.
5. Final Production & Impact
After refining the animation through multiple iterations, the final film was released, generating significant engagement. Schools, humanitarian organizations, and social media platforms shared the video, sparking conversations about the unseen psychological toll of conflict on children. More importantly, the animation provided a visual and emotional gateway for audiences to understand how structured trauma support—like that offered by BLP—can change lives.
This animation was more than just a film—it was a call to action. By illustrating the hardships children in Palestine face daily and showing how the Better Learning Program helps them cope, the project served as both an awareness tool and an advocacy piece. Through the power of storytelling and animation, I was able to translate complex psychological issues into an accessible, emotional, and visually striking narrative, ensuring that these children’s voices are heard and their experiences acknowledged.