we are not numbers

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

Ghada Ahmed

    Ghada, 25, studied English at the Islamic University of Gaza and now is pursuing her master's in Qatar. She has worked as a librarian and translator for the Center for Political and Development Studies and then as an English teacher. "In Gaza, you have to accept jobs you don't like, since it's what's available. I don't prefer teaching, but my students helped me enjoy what I was doing," she comments.

    She also is very interested in psychology, as she believes it's important to understand both  people's behavior and  their internal world. Reading is her "inspiration" and writing is her "passion." Ghada comes from a land that "has never seen peace," but she says flowers, birds, rain and the beach are her source of peace and muse. Her dream is to run a flower shop (although it's not common in Gaza for a female to do so) and learn horseback riding.

    my work

    I love English, but in Arabic, there are so many more ways to communicate nuance.
    Learning English can be boring, so I asked my students to be stars in their own movie...
    Loud explosions are common in Gaza, causing a rise in hearing impairment.
    Egypt, Jordan and Israel play with the lives of Gazans just like a game of dominos.
    Sixty-nine years is a long time, but Palestinians everywhere are not giving up the dream of returning to our homeland.
    Many Europeans stereotype Palestinians as terrorists. Meanwhile, their ancestors are buried in Gaza and people from Gaza look after their graves.
    It's said that the "old will die and the young will forget.” Reality proves that wrong.
    My grandma finally got to visit Jerusalem...Will I have to wait until I'm 60?