Key facts
- Swimming classes have restarted in Gaza after a three-year break due to war.
- Hundreds of children are participating in the classes held in five makeshift pools constructed from sandbags and rubble.
- The initiative provides children with a temporary escape from the ongoing conflict, trauma, and lack of formal education.
- Volunteers, led by Amjed Tantesh, built the pools by hand.
- Free classes are offered to children who have lost parents in Israeli attacks, with open sessions in the afternoons.
Swimming classes have resumed in Gaza after a three-year absence, providing hundreds of children with a vital opportunity to experience normalcy and joy amidst ongoing conflict. Volunteers, led by Amjed Tantesh, have constructed five makeshift sea pools using sandbags and rubble, as heavy machinery is scarce. These classes offer a temporary respite from the pervasive fear, trauma, and lack of basic amenities, including formal education, which has been absent for three years.
Children like 13-year-old Alma Shabat, who lost her mother, find solace in the water, stating, “Swimming gives me a chance to escape the war, and the worries I live with.” Ten-year-old Maryam al Musri echoes this sentiment, saying, “Being here allows me to train, play and breath fresh air, away from the tents.” Fourteen-year-old Laila Qahman finds confidence and relaxation, stating, “I come here every other day because it makes me feel like I’m living my life and enjoying my time, instead of staying in the tent listening to the sounds of shelling and living with fear and sadness.”
Tantesh, who founded Gaza's first swimming academy over two decades ago, mobilised dozens of volunteers to build the pools by hand. Free classes are held in the mornings for children who have lost parents in Israeli attacks, while afternoons are open to all. Tantesh hopes to expand the program to teach thousands more children over the summer, but requires funding for teachers and other expenses, as volunteers are currently working for free.
The initiative is also deeply personal for Tantesh, who is mourning his brother Bahjat, a karate champion killed in an Israeli attack last year. Bahjat was the one who taught Tantesh to swim, inspiring his passion for sport. The current classes serve as a tribute to his brother and a way for Tantesh to find healing. He recalls the initial challenges of convincing parents to let their children swim due to fear of the sea, which had claimed many lives annually. Previous pools, some built with rubble from destroyed homes, were razed by Israeli attacks since 2023, killing students and coaches. Restarting seemed impossible, but Tantesh's determination to provide a safe and joyful experience for Gaza's children, and his own personal recovery, drives the project forward.