Country of Residence: Palestine Country of Origin: Palestine
Farah Ammar is a journalism student in Gaza who lost her leg and eye in an Israeli airstrike. Despite her injuries, she returned to serve her community, smiling through pain and hardship. Her story embodies sumud (steadfastness), shukr (gratitude), and hope under fire—showing students how resilience is rooted in faith and sacrifice.
(This story is inspired by true events shared by Farah Ammar through her Instagram posts.)
Farah woke up lazily on the bright, sunny morning of October 6, 2023. “Shoots, it’s already past 8:30—I missed my morning gym,” she thought as she got out of bed, her body still stiff from the previous day’s workout. She made a mental note to go in the evening to ease the muscles. The warm aroma of breakfast filled the home as her parents spoke in the background. She stretched and said to herself, “I must rush. I have a long day ahead of me.”
Her first stop was Al-Aqsa University. She couldn’t stop smiling as she walked through the gates—it was the day her dream was coming true. All her life she had wanted to be a journalist, to tell the world about the atrocities of Israel. Now she was finally being admitted into the Department of Press and Media. “Wow, I can’t wait for classes to begin,”she thought. “I will make a difference. I will make sure the world sees what we go through every day. No man, woman, child, or nation deserves to live like this. I won’t give up on my people.”
“Farah!” She turned to see her best friend, Sally Mohammed, smiling. “Mabrook!” (Congratulations), said Sally. Farah’s joy and pride overflowed. They hugged with a happy shout of excitement. Later, over coffee and sandwiches at their favorite café, Sally asked about the recent ceremony honoring outstanding high school students organized by the Paths for Sustainable Development Team.
Farah had given a speech there and helped organize the event. She spoke passionately about the need for Palestinians, especially children, to find solutions for pollution and eco-friendly environments. Their country was poor, overpopulated, and heavily polluted. She wanted her generation to bring change. The friends finished their sandwiches and strolled out with coffee in hand. Farah snapped a few photos of their cups, deciding they would look perfect on her Instagram feed.
It was the next day that changed their lives forever—a day that would remain etched in Farah’s memory for as long as she lived. In response to the Hamas-led Operation Tufan Al-Aqsa (Al-Aqsa Flood), Israel launched massive attacks on Gaza beginning October 13, 2023. Farah watched in horror as bombs rained down around her. Shops, cafés, schools, homes, and entire buildings were reduced to rubble. The world, as so often before, stood silently as Israel indiscriminately and systematically bombed civilians, sparing no one.
On October 16, tragedy struck her own life when her building was hit. The bombardment not only destroyed her home, but it also shattered her dreams and aspirations. Yet it failed to kill her hope or her sumud—her unbreakable resilience. This is the story of Farah and her steadfast spirit.
Farah lost an eye, a leg, and sustained burns on her hands. Her recovery was long and difficult. Hospitals were overwhelmed, lacking supplies, while Israel escalated by bombing hospitals under the pretext of targeting Hamas. Al-Shifa Hospital – where Farah and her family were treated – was brutally attacked. With nowhere left to go and no adequate care available, her condition worsened.
On April 8, 2024, she stood in front of a Canadian ambulance and pleaded: “Transfer me to the south so I can travel and continue my treatment.” When the Canadians refused, she collapsed in despair. Yet her bold stand went viral on social media. The world wept watching the video of “a young amputee standing in front of a WHO ambulance.”
Even as she was stranded in Gaza because of the Israeli blockade, Farah did not give up her voluntary work. With Sally, she visited children at the Holy Family School on Eid al-Fitr to bring them joy. Days later, she joined a hospice cooking session, her Instagram post—stirring a pot while holding her crutches—receiving more than 50,000 likes. Her infectious smile, captured in photos of her sailing through Gaza’s streets in a wheelchair, made her a symbol of resilience and hope.
On April 25, 2024, the Ottawa Community Housing Foundation (OCH) reached out and helped transfer her to Rafah for treatment. Yet even in Rafah, Israeli bombings continued.
Despite everything, Farah remained defiant. Her message to the world was clear:
“Our laughter comes from the heart, and we paid a very heavy price for it. After a long period of fatigue, pressure, tension, and fear, we want to tell you that we love life and are still clinging to it. Despite our pain, we will live life in all its details. We will be happy with every moment, and we will create joy out of the depth of our pain, against all circumstances.”
Farah Ammar
Farah is one of many Palestinians who give meaning to the struggle, shape history, and redefine resistance and resilience. They are boys and girls, mothers and fathers, children and elderly, tied together by one unwavering desire: a Free Palestine, their ancestral land. Each wave of aggression strengthens their resolve to never give up.
Allahu Akbar! Their iman (faith) is deep and unshakable. When they say Alhamdulillah (praise be to Allah), it is with conviction—born of pain, faith, and hope—not as a mere habit or passing comment.
Farah is, in many ways, like other young girls her age. She uses Instagram and Snapchat, has ambitions, enjoys coffee with friends, the gym, and music. Yet she is also profoundly different. Through her courage and resilience, she has become a living symbol of sumud—steadfastness—like a bird whose wings can never be clipped.
Discussion Themes
Objective
Students will recognize and appreciate the importance of gratitude and sacrifice, and how these values shape life.
Key Concept
Shukr (Gratitude): The willingness to praise and thank Allah (swt) in all circumstances.
Ithar (Sacrifice): The ability and desire to give up something valuable or important for the benefit of others or for a greater cause.
Learning Outcomes
Students will be able to:
Differentiate between shukr and gratitude, ithar and sacrifice.
Find similarities between the shukr of the early Muslims of Madinah after the Hijra of the Prophet (saw) and that of the Palestinians today.
Objective
Students will recognize and appreciate the resilience and hope of Palestinians.
Key Concept
Resilience: The ability to recover and remain steadfast in the face of crisis.
Hope: A feeling of expectation and trust in a better future, sustained by faith in Allah (swt).
Learning Outcome
Students will be able to:
Discuss the reasons and sources of resilience and hope among Palestinians, focusing on Farah in particular.
Develop empathy for Palestinians through reflection on their stories.
Activities & Questions
Comprehension
1. Why did Farah want to be a journalist?
2. How was her dream shattered?
3. How did Farah manage to get out of Gaza?
Critical Thinking
1. Why did Farah stop the Canadian ambulance?
2. What difference would Farah’s voice make in the media?
3. What role has social media played in the Palestinian struggle?
4. How is Alhamdulillah uttered by a Palestinian different from how many of us say it?
5. Why do you think Farah calls the Israeli aggression a genocide?
Discussion Ideas
1. Even after her injuries, Farah is seen smiling and doing volunteer work. Discuss with your partner what keeps her motivated.
2. How can you show empathy to Farah?
3. How can you relate to Farah? What would you have done in her place?
4. Do you find Farah’s story inspiring? Why and how?
Research Ideas
1. Use social media to learn about other Palestinian survivors. Write a story about one of them and share it with your friends and family.
2. Research the history of Palestine and create a PowerPoint presentation showing how Israel has gradually annexed Palestinian land.
Writing Ideas
1. In the story Farah says, “no nation deserves to live like this.” Find out what this means and share your findings in a report.
2. Write a poem about the struggles of Palestinian war survivors
Activity Ideas
1. Using a catchy slogan, design a campaign for Farah highlighting her life before and after the war.
2. Create a blog that presents the true history of Palestine and keep it active with weekly updates.
3. Use your social media account to share and promote the Palestinian cause.
4. Make a digital collage showing the resilience of Palestinians.
5. Using flow charts, illustrate the creation of Israel and its annexation plans.
Note: The organization is not responsible for any modifications or changes made to the downloaded documents after their initial distribution. Users are advised to use the materials in accordance with the guidelines provided and to accept any consequences resulting from unauthorized modifications.
Get New Lessons First, Free Downloads & Tips.
Be the first to know when we release new lesson plans, activities, and educator resources. Sign up now and help shape the future of this curriculum.
Write down! I am an Arab And my identity card number is fifty thousand I have eight children And the ninth will come after a summer Will you be angry?
Write down! I am an Arab Employed with fellow workers at a quarry I have eight children I get them bread Garments and books from the rocks... I do not supplicate charity at your doors Nor do I belittle myself at the footsteps of your chamber So will you be angry?
Write down! I am an Arab I have a name without a title Patient in a country Where people are enraged My roots Were entrenched before the birth of time And before the opening of the eras Before the pines, and the olive trees And before the grass grew
My father ... descends from the family of the plough Not from a privileged class And my grandfather ... was a farmer Neither well-bred, nor well-born! Teaches me the pride of the sun Before teaching me how to read And my house is like a watchman's hut Made of branches and cane Are you satisfied with my status? I have a name without a title!
Write down! I am an Arab You have stolen the orchards of my ancestors And the land which I cultivated Along with my children And you left nothing for us Except for these rocks ... So will the State take them As it has been said?!
Therefore! Write down on the top of the first page: I do not hate people Nor do I encroach But if I become hungry The usurper's flesh will be my food Beware ... Beware ... Of my hunger And my anger!
Oh Children of Gaza by Zahraa Jamal
Oh Children of Gaza! Our hearts bleed;
We see how You are killed, Skating down the street.
Oh Children of Gaza!
It’s unfair;
Your rights are not fulfilled, But you possess a beauty and strength So rare.
Oh Children of Gaza!
Hold strong to Deen;
Say, Hasbunallah! Allah is sufficient for us! Worry not, trust that you are seen.
Oh Children of Gaza!
The day will dawn, When justice will be served. Those who have wronged you, Will suffer and mourn.
Oh Children of Gaza!
Your pain is not in vain. Jannah awaits, And for eternity, there you will remain.
O beloved Palestine by Hana Vahed
O beloved Palestine We won’t let you go When will the bloodshed stop? Only Allah knows Israel is to blame But they are lying And always denying Let the people return to the homes they’ve fled And let their hearts be free of dread Though we may not see it These people are great In the eyes of Allah, this is their fate In Palestine’s heart, hope is still strong Amongst the pain, love shines on Empathy and peace beat in the hearts of all With the hardship, their Imaan stays true Because saving Al Aqsa is what they were chosen to do
I Walk Through The Valley Of Death by Jurair Abdul Qadir Patel
I walk through the valley of death a place once so full of life I wondered if the cries of my daughter weren't enough for the oppressors to stop and pull out the knife I wondered if killing millions wasn't fulfilling enough for the Israelis to spare my child Helpless and broken I stared at the sky with my knees on the ground with tears in my eye surrounded by the soldiers from all the sides I smiled at the animals in front of my eyes who carried the flag of blue and white for there was no remorse their conscience had died.
I Am What Israel Made Me by Salma Mather
I used to be a girl who laughed at everything and was constantly being told by my teachers to stop talking I used to be brave and whole I looked in the mirror today and realised that girl Died Along with the others She is buried under the rubble I am no longer brave Or whole I can no longer laugh I can only keep re-seeing The ripped torso of a girl Who I used to call my best friend They call me a victim I am no longer a girl I am just what Israel made me
How Can I Stand For A Place I Have Never Been by Imaan Hassim
How can I stand for a place I have never been? Speak out for people I have never seen?
Is it that the heart chooses what to feel?
Is it humanity that binds us?
If I could I’d whisper secrets in the winds.
To every mother whose tears never cease.
To every father whose fears only grow.
To every child who dreams like me.
You are not alone.
Your dreams glisten and shine like The moonlit sea.
Over dark and hellish skies, the sun Shall always rise.
Oh, certainly Palestine freedom shall be Your prize
Palestine by Noor Elgobashy
As the sun starts to set A child lies beneath an olive tree to rest Her home destroyed She was left dismayed This pure child’s innocence, void Monitoring a soldier approach Her heart feels tense Her body, dense She tries to scream Wishing this was just a dream
She closes her eyes in silent prayer And there lies the figure right before her With lifeless eyes And a gun in his hand Another life lost, more stolen land
Dear Palestine The world knows there are hundreds like this everyday And what does the world do Where is humanitarian aid When d human rights come into play Its time to put a end to this This war must bid farewell For there will come a time When Palestine Will finally prevail But for now, You are in our prayers
Oh Allah bring their hearts together Reform their mutual relationships And give them victory over your enemies and their enemies
Pain of Palestine by Syeda Maryam
Like the people of Nuh And the Muslims of Makkah Will this nation too Find refuge for their Taqwah?
Akin to the Sahaba And their striving ways Pray the Palestinians’ burning Iman Will save them today
Ya Muqtadir, whose power is a universe Compared to which the cruel are specks And Whose mercy blooms like a flower Amidst the thorns of our world’s brutality Ya Rahman, the denier of undeserved despair, Ya Rauf, who loves his believers endlessly, Spare the Muminoon of Palestine pain Like you spared Bani Israel from vicious reign
Ya Darr, the one who brings pain to the immoral Ya Mumit, who ends the evil Make an example of the predators of the Mumin An example the world won’t forget
Even though they were born with a devil Every person is also born with an angel Ya Hadi, who shows the light to the lost Guide the wayward of this world
I Wonder by Safa Asghar
I wonder as I stare at the empty grey sky If everyone lives under the same one I wonder what living is like When I don’t know I’ll exist the next moment I asked my mother if humanity still existed She said humans do I wonder what I have done to deserve this, Why people still don’t care? I think about freedom and if my people will ever get it? I look at my scarred hands And I wonder if my wounds will ever heal I wonder what life is actually like If people still have their families, while mine is no more I wonder when I would smile after all the shed tears They told me to cling onto hope And I wonder when it would turn into reality I wonder what will happen to my people as the inhuman soldier presses the trigger...
As The Sun Starts To Set by Noor Elgobashy
As the sun starts to set A child lies beneath an olive tree to rest Her home destroyed She was left dismayed This pure child’s innocence, void Monitoring a soldier approach Her heart feels tense Her body, dense She tries to scream Wishing this was just a dream She closes her eyes in silent prayer And there lies the figure right before her With lifeless eyes And a gun in his hand Another life lost, more stolen land Dear Palestine The world knows there are hundreds like this everyday And what does the world do Where is humanitarian aid When do human rights come into play Its time to put a end to this This war must bid farewell For there will come a time When Palestine Will finally prevail But for now, You are in our prayers Oh Allah bring their hearts together Reform their mutual relationships And give them victory over your enemies and their enemies
A Call for Palestine: A Plea for Justice by Hassan Shahid
In the stillness of the night, where shadows weep, Where the earth laments, in dreams buried deep, The cries of the people slice through the dark, Yearning for justice, a freedom’s spark.
From the ancient wisdom, the Prophet’s flame, The tale of Suleman, a revered name, He stood where silence was an endless strife, Where nations faltered, losing life.
The camel, once pure, its sanctity betrayed, A tale that shook the world, foundations swayed, Those who saw the signs of tyranny near, Yet in their silence, they bore the weight of fear.
"Raise your voices, or bear the cost, Without justice, all is lost, Palestine’s cry, a beacon so bright, Guiding us through the darkest night."
When Gaza’s wail reaches our ears, We cannot turn away, nor dismiss the tears, Silence will no longer shield us from guilt, It fuels the flames oppression built.
"Now speak with strength, with purpose clear, For justice is born when voices are near, Palestine calls us to rise, to stand, To shield their rights with unwavering hand."
Let our hearts ignite with a steadfast fire, For silence now will lead to mire, In every deed, in every voice, we must show, That justice and truth in our souls grow.
If we remain mute as oppression thrives, We bear the weight of countless lives, Raise your voices, let justice reign, In the face of darkness, break every chain.
"In history’s echo, our actions speak loud, The silent falter, the brave stand proud, Palestine’s call is our shared fight, For justice, for freedom, we must unite."
Miracles Under the Rubble by Ali Husain
A child in pain, with hope so small, She tried her best to call and call.
An angel came with light so bright, Turning darkness into daylight.
In that light, her fears took flight, And rescuer calls lit up the night.
To warm the child, the angel stayed, Until the rescuers found their way.
Beneath the rubble and the stone, A child lay trapped and all alone.
Yet in his hand, his faith held tight, A tasbih glowing through the night.
His whispered zikr, his softest voice, It wasn't really his choice.
For days he did zikr through hardship and fear, Until the rescuers drew near.
Through the rubble, they found him there, Awaiting the right care with silent prayer.
Beneath the stone, a baby cried, With broken bones, she really tried.
Her cries were small, but her strength was strong, A glimmer of hope in her mother's song.
The rescuers heard her tiny sound, And quickly dug into the ground.
Through shattered glass and broken dreams, She suffered under cruel schemes.
Her tiny hands, her small eyes, Made it hard to find her due to her size.
Though war had torn her family apart, This child survived with a beating heart
Innocence In Ashes by Helena Thaer Abdesumad
In a land where the sun forgets to shine, I open my eyes, but darkness is mine. The cries of wars are the songs that I hear, In Palestine, where hope has disappeared.
My home is just a memory, a fleeting ghost, Laughter’s vanished, replaced by most Terrifying echoes, constant and near— A child’s heart is consumed by fear.
Bombs fall like endless tears from the sky, My house turned to rubble, no place to hide. Explosions are my lullabies, sharp and loud, In every blast, I feel my world shroud.
Mama and Baba are gone, their faces I chase, Their loving arms lost in the war-torn place. I wander through the debris, feeling so lost, In this sea of destruction, counting the cost.
There’s no home to return to, just empty, cold streets, Where the nights are long and the cold never retreats. I huddle alone where shadows take flight, Dreaming of warmth in the dead of the night.
My stomach is empty, hunger my only friend, When food appears, it’s stained with blood’s end. Each bite is a battle, each meal is a tear, In a world where even sustenance is a fear.
Pain is my constant companion now, I've grown numb to the hurt, don't ask me how. My body bears the scars of countless strife, In this cruel world that's stolen my life.
Once a child with dreams now forced to see, A world where innocence is lost to me. I’ve aged in heart, my spirit’s been cracked, In a blink, my youth stripped and attacked.
In this land where hope has turned to dust, I live in a nightmare, broken and thrust. Each day’s a struggle, each night a scar, A child's heart beaten by a war’s cruel scar. -------------------------------------------------------------------- This poem is written from the perspective of a Palestinian child living in Gaza.
The Evergreen Tree by Rushda Suleman
As a blue and white flag falters through the wind Your loved ones hold what’s left of you In your shroud of crimson-stained thread.
Your bloody birth certificate Hanging in a torn tent Haunting them, taunting them, Saying; “You have nothing left”.
On a tree rooted in your ancestral home A small olive bud begins to grow Bringing with it the undeniable fact That their longing land will be returned And their broken hearts will be cured.
So you can sleep soundly knowing very well That your death grew resilience and hope; An olive branch, a symbol of life reborn.
A Train of Flame by Sohaib Abdelmegeed
The bride in drapes of white, Walks beneath man-made stars that light up the night
The gown of a thousand layers, Its hems incinerated, a drown of prayers
His only love lost beneath those stones, Perhaps he'll find an eye, or maybe a few bones
A symphony of rhythmic blows, Who are you to complain of all your woes?
And yet he looks up to the stars, a peaceful night, To thank the Lord who created what shines bright
And despite what transpires, through thick and thin The righteous in the end surely do win
Do not despair, people of the green pitted tree Your homeland is yours, forever was and will be.
Poetry in our ears (Things you may find hidden in my ear) by Musab Abu Toha
When you open my ear, touch it gently. my mother’s voice lingers somewhere inside. Her voice is the echo that helps recover my equilibrium when I feel dizzy during my attentiveness.
You may encounter songs in Arabic, poems in English I recite to myself, or a song I chant to the chirping birds in our backyard. When you stitch the cut, don’t forget to put all these back in my ear. Put them back in order as you would do with books on your shelf.
The drone’s buzzing sound, The roar of an F-16, The screams of bombs falling on houses, On fields, and on bodies, of rockets flying away—rid my small ear canal of them all.
Spray the perfume of your smiles on the incision. Inject the song of life into my veins to wake me up. Gently beat the drum so my mind may dance with yours, my doctor, day and night.
Treasured Memories (Inspired by the poetry of Mosab Abu Toha)
In each room, dim the light's soft glow, In the inner hallway, where shadows slow. Away from windows, I find my retreat, No haven of calm, in my mind worries compete.
Forget the stove, the scent of food is just a dream A bottle of water, to cool the children's fears, An embroidered handkerchief to wipe away their tears
Late grandparents' photos, in tender embrace, Money and ID cards of the family whose lives have passed A wedding invitation, memories time can't erase. Tiny toys within a child's backpack stuffed Nestled under my arm, a comforting weight
My pockets with treasure and purpose, filled, Handful of soil in one, strawberry seeds in the other I hold on tight to life's little joys, I hold on tight to sweet strong faith. For the age on my last birthday might be the last of the years I have.
The Wind of Gaza by Amani Omar
The wind whispers A child awakens Sobs shattering silence Tattered robes stained with blood Alone without solace, a burning heart
The wind rustles A breath of hope A wisp of comfort The innocent child rises
The wind howls “You are strong, resilient” “A nation unbroken” “A land destined for freedom”
The wind rages Healing wounds Drying tears Faith unyielding An angel emerges, aiding
The wind roars, screeching “Summon your people” Through ruins and ravaging fires The call ignites
Ashes blossom into green Warriors mounting white steeds Bright stars in the black night The Palestinians stand tall against the red horizon
