One of our Islamic Relief Palestine staff, Mrs. Maha Barazq sharing her story in the occasion of the International Women’s Day

Happy Women’s Day

Maha Barzaq

Project Coordinator – Islamic Relief Palestine

Perception makes you what you are, this is what I believe. I ‘ve always dreamt of making difference and being unique. The chance of exploring context and defeating challenges began with my first experience as a teacher in a rural area. I had to work intensively on holistic view and getting students involved in learning activities, chants, stories and broadcasting. I was proud to get promoted afterwards and to work with them freely and enjoy creative broadcastings of their own. I wished I could do the same in my country. In fact, I gained a tacit of teaching expertise for different levels and I started higher education diploma but was not presumed because of Gulf war. I moved to the Sudan where my priorities focused on getting to know my children independently. I volunteered at their school to teach art and music to be familiar with their responses.

One of my dreams came true the moment I reached Gaza in 1994. Shortly I was the first candidate in teacher employment competition and happily, I am in a Palestinian school.  I was wandering among the students’ queue, noticing one tuned accent. This moment amazingly held my heart to the sky happily, as I was accustomed to multi-national classes with various accents.

I started as a teacher, but soon was recognized for being “different”. The seniors asked me to be in charge of preparing T. V educational lessons. It was a tough task, new experience and big challenge. Fortunately, it was a success and helped to get me well-known. At the same time, I could acquire a new educational Diploma During this time, I won a competition to King’s Alfred’s Collage in Winchester UK to create a training package for Palestine. This encouraged me to obtain master degree in curricula and methodology.  Soon, I became a headmistress of high basic school. I worked with students and teachers on teaching methods, knowledge, values and basically recreation. In two years the school achieved 15 awards in a range of activities and sports. Meanwhile, I represented Palestine in “Child creativity conference” in UAE with four Palestinian students in which Palestine achieved highest credits.

I’ve always thought of myself as supporter for others but never the one in need. During 2008 I was so near to death when our house was shelled and destroyed. At the same time, I was collecting all my power to give strength to my daughter diagnosed with cancer. I rejected many offers and I did not peruse my PhD to accompany her during remedy.  Hopefully, she is a tough survivor who inspired hope to all patients through fine art and paint.

I believed the reform starts from the early childhood stage. The chance aroused when I started working at IR-Palestine on the project “Improving Preschool Education Access and Quality”. The project is dedicated to comprehensive development of an ignored sector. I felt very proud when the Council of Ministers approved “Curriculum Frame” work as a national document for Palestinian kindergarten stage. Also, the dissemination of the unified curriculum to all kindergartens in Gaza strip. In fact, dream came true and unified curriculum framework is accredited as well as the whole reform in kindergarten. Throughout this project there was a time of stress, worry and anxiety, but never despair.