Thursday, August 28th — 11am ET / 8am PT / 6pm Jerusalem Time
Behind the Scenes at Rebuilding Alliance— Pinwheels for Peace in the Classrooms of Gaza
Four teachers in the Gaza Strip are asking their students to write down what peace means and draw what it looks like. Despite famine and deadly war, they are teaching Pinwheels for Peace—bringing forward the children’s voices.
Hear them, as a first step to get food moving,
prevent the decimation of Gaza City
— and end the war.
1. Join the First Webinar on August 28 [Register for Webinar Here]
2. Meet the Teachers - The teachers will call in live from Gaza to share their stories.
Neveen — a remarkable English teacher with the Youth Vision Society, our CBO partner. Her whole family chose to remain in Gaza City to help feed their community. With the threat of invasion, Neveen and thousands of families now face forced displacement. Her daughters fear losing their home.
Nermeen — an art teacher whose family lives too close to the Mediterranean Sea. Their tent has been flooded three times in a single week, and there is nowhere safe to move it.
Em Elias — an English teacher who brought her extended family into their tent after fleeing their shelter, running for their lives.
Ruwaida — a hands-on science teacher who now helps children read and write in emergency conditions. Though she calls journalism her “hobby,” she is a published author.
3. Urge Congress to Intervene [Email Congress Now]
Tell your members of Congress: get food moving, protect Gaza’s families, and press to end the war.
The children are speaking for peace—may we answer with courage, compassion, and action.
Sincerely,
Donna Baranski-Walker
Founder and Executive Director, Rebuilding Alliance
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UPCOMING:
4. Make Pinwheels for Peace
Tuesday, September 2nd, 2025 — Zoom Workshop
[Save the Date— we'll send registration for the Zoom Workshop soon]
This International Peace Day, Rebuilding Alliance is encouraging children and teachers in Gaza, the West Bank, Jerusalem, and around the world to make Pinwheels for Peace. Don’t worry if you’ve never made one before—we’ll show you how. Bring a child you love and join us online.
5. Bring Pinwheels to Congress
Wednesday, September 17th, 2025 — Washington, DC
Send your pinwheels ahead, or bring them in person, to invite your Senators and Representative to attend Rebuilding Alliance’s “I Care About Peace” Congressional Briefing.
Over the years, children’s pinwheels have proven to be a surprisingly powerful advocacy tool. In 2008, children in Al Aqaba Village made pinwheels to protect their kindergarten from demolition—and because Congress intervened, the village thrived. In 2015, Senator Feinstein hugged Palestinian children holding their pinwheels, and began a series of letters with Israel’s Prime Minister that helped protect the villages of Susiya and Umm Al Kheir.
On September 17th, we invite you to bring your child—or their class—to Congress as we present these voices and symbols of peace directly to lawmakers. Use this opportunity to meet your members of Congress and urge them to act—family by family, to keep Palestinian families alive.