we are not numbers

emerging writers from Palestine tell their stories and advocate for their human rights

Farah Samer Zaina

  • Gaza Strip

Farah Samer Zaina is an Arabic–English translator, content writer, and teacher in Gaza. She  graduated from the Islamic University of Gaza (IUG) with a degree in English literature. She is the daughter of Samer and Diana Zaina and a student of Dr. Refaat Alareer.

She has worked as a teacher’s assistant at the University College of Applied Science in Gaza, as an English trainer at the Continuing Education Deanship at IUG, and as a translator and content writer with the External Relationship program at IUG and Act for Palestine. When she was a student, she served as a team leader at the Women and Inclusive Peace festival.

Farah’s process to prepare for teaching is to learn through reading books, researching, watching videos and films, taking courses, and discovering new talents.

“I believe that learning is a lifetime process,” she says. “I love literature because it mirrors reality, life, events, people, and much more.

“I write because words have power.

“I have lived my whole life in Gaza seeing my people and my students growing more resilient, and I am proud of them.”

Current as of September 2024

A young woman with flowered top and white hijab.

my work

Fire. Feed. Eat. Live. / The warmth he seeks / claws at his childhood with / diseases, scars, and burns.
Red lines and blue lines / Run to meet in the middle of the heart / To dance together and invite the heart to drum.