‘I transformed from a hesitant mother into a strong mother’: Enhancing positive parenting and children’s wellbeing in Gaza

Mrs. Nour*, a 31-year-old mother of two, struggled with her children’s behaviour, especially in situations that required patience and discipline.

“I used to feel powerless and overwhelmed,” she said.

A resident of Gaza’s Yarmouk Camp, Mrs. Nour lives in a tent under harsh living conditions.

Her husband, who was injured in the war in Gaza, suffers from chronic health problems that have directly affected his ability to provide for the family.

As a result, Mrs. Nour faced significant challenges arising from the daily life burdens, leaving her psychologically and physically exhausted.

Unfortunately, this also negatively affected her ability to understand her children’s psychological and behavioral needs, and to effectively care for them.

Her older child, who was required to perform multiple daily tasks to support the family despite his young age, began to experience clear psychological distress because of bearing responsibilities beyond his age, physical, and psychological capacities.

Now, though, Mrs. Nour feels differently about her ability to care for her children, thanks to the assistance provided by MA'AN Development Center – a Palestinian non-governmental organization – through a project that sought to enhance safety, resilience and wellbeing for conflict-affected children in Gaza.

With funding support from the OCHA-managed Occupied Palestinian Territory Humanitarian Fund (oPt HF), MA’AN organized child protection awareness workshops in which Mrs. Nour participated, obtaining vital psychosocial support and parenting skills.

The sessions covered different areas, including identifying child protection risks, positive parenting approaches, how to effectively communicate skills with children, how to prevent harm from explosive remnants of war, and the risks of family separation and how to reduce them.

Initially, Mrs. Nour was reserved and hesitant to participate, but the staff’s approach – based on credibility, clarity, and neutrality – helped to gradually build a trusting relationship.

She received initial psychological first aid, with a clear explanation of the available services without any pressure, respecting her right to make decisions while ensuring complete confidentiality and safety throughout all stages of intervention.

“The sessions were not just ordinary sessions – they were a turning point in my life and the lives of my children,” Mrs. Nour said.

Through Mrs. Nour’s commitment to attending awareness sessions and ongoing follow-up, she began to feel that she was not alone and that there were positive and effective ways to handle daily life challenges. This was clearly reflected in her psychological state, as she became calmer and more capable of dealing with her children’s issues.

Mrs. Nour developed skills in using positive parenting techniques, became more able to listen to her children and understand their feelings, relied on positive reinforcement rather than punishment, and made efforts to understand her children’s emotions before responding to their behaviors.

“I transformed from a hesitant mother into a strong mother,” she said. “I am confident in myself as a mother and capable of handling life’s challenges. I have learned that punishment is not the solution in parenting, and that understanding and emotional support are the foundation.”

A noticeable psychological and behavioral improvement was also observed in her older child, who was integrated into case management services, thanks to the mother’s consistent follow-up and continuous encouragement, which helped strengthen his sense of safety and support.

“This had a profound effect in breaking the barrier of fear, building trust, and promoting resilience and safety,” she said.

As her self-confidence increased, and she expressed that she felt more aware and responsible in her role as a mother, capable of managing family challenges in a more balanced and supportive manner.

The sessions also helped her build a strong social network, and she encouraged others to come to the workshops.

*Name changed for privacy and protection.

Story by Suzan Sarhan.

Posted February 2026.

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