In times of conflict, children have very little time to be children - playing with friends, joking around or having fun - but one community group in Sidon is trying to change all that, providing entertainment for the youngsters - and meals for their families - in shelters schools across the region.
"We are striving to up people's spirts!” said Salah al-Jardli, a volunteer dancer. “Children should dance and have fun and move around, this should be applied to everyone, not only children. Despite the war, [we] do our best to go to schools to entertain people."
Footage from Wednesday shows children playing football, dancing, singing, and getting creative with watercolours. The video also features a child distributing meals to others and families camping out at the Lebanese University, which has become one of the many refugee centres.
"We hand out donations and also we go to other shelter centres to play with children," said another volunteer, Lord al-Khoury. "We know that in these difficult times, children are the most adversely impacted given that they are deprived of schools and fun times. We are trying therefore to create fun vibes for children literally out of nothing."
Many of those in the area have been displaced from the south, amid fierce fighting between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, and the threat of IDF airstrikes. As the conflict continues to rage, groups like this one can provide a little light relief for those too young to understand - but old enough to feel the very real consequences for their lives.
In times of conflict, children have very little time to be children - playing with friends, joking around or having fun - but one community group in Sidon is trying to change all that, providing entertainment for the youngsters - and meals for their families - in shelters schools across the region.
"We are striving to up people's spirts!” said Salah al-Jardli, a volunteer dancer. “Children should dance and have fun and move around, this should be applied to everyone, not only children. Despite the war, [we] do our best to go to schools to entertain people."
Footage from Wednesday shows children playing football, dancing, singing, and getting creative with watercolours. The video also features a child distributing meals to others and families camping out at the Lebanese University, which has become one of the many refugee centres.
"We hand out donations and also we go to other shelter centres to play with children," said another volunteer, Lord al-Khoury. "We know that in these difficult times, children are the most adversely impacted given that they are deprived of schools and fun times. We are trying therefore to create fun vibes for children literally out of nothing."
Many of those in the area have been displaced from the south, amid fierce fighting between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, and the threat of IDF airstrikes. As the conflict continues to rage, groups like this one can provide a little light relief for those too young to understand - but old enough to feel the very real consequences for their lives.
In times of conflict, children have very little time to be children - playing with friends, joking around or having fun - but one community group in Sidon is trying to change all that, providing entertainment for the youngsters - and meals for their families - in shelters schools across the region.
"We are striving to up people's spirts!” said Salah al-Jardli, a volunteer dancer. “Children should dance and have fun and move around, this should be applied to everyone, not only children. Despite the war, [we] do our best to go to schools to entertain people."
Footage from Wednesday shows children playing football, dancing, singing, and getting creative with watercolours. The video also features a child distributing meals to others and families camping out at the Lebanese University, which has become one of the many refugee centres.
"We hand out donations and also we go to other shelter centres to play with children," said another volunteer, Lord al-Khoury. "We know that in these difficult times, children are the most adversely impacted given that they are deprived of schools and fun times. We are trying therefore to create fun vibes for children literally out of nothing."
Many of those in the area have been displaced from the south, amid fierce fighting between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, and the threat of IDF airstrikes. As the conflict continues to rage, groups like this one can provide a little light relief for those too young to understand - but old enough to feel the very real consequences for their lives.