On International Volunteer Day (December 5), the We Are Not Numbers team and writers cooperated with municipal officials to plant trees along the streets of Gaza City. In addition to adding greenery to the local community and helping “cleanse” the environment of pollution, the initiative restored some of the amenities lost during past Israeli attacks.

International Volunteer Day is recognized by the United Nations. Research shows that the odds of being “very happy” rises by 7% among those who volunteer monthly, and by 12% among those who volunteer every two to four weeks. And in Gaza, we need all the happiness we can get!