These are not photos, but drawn pictures from the children affected by the war in Gaza.
This week, Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) is displaying “A Child’s View from Gaza” art exhibit in the SO building as part of Gaza Awareness Week — a memorial week spent in remembrance of the lives lost in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict between December 2008 and January 2009 — which began on Feb. 4.
The exhibit showcases drawings by children ages five to 16 that will be on display until Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
The exhibit was conceived by the Middle East Children’s Alliance, an organization that advocates for children’s rights in the Middle East, especially those involved in Middle East conflict.
Gabi Aleksinko, senior and intercultural relations and social science major, was working the SJP table featuring the artwork today.
Aleksinko went on to say that getting a child’s perspective on this issue is the least biased view on the situation.
“The children are not biased or affected by political justification for what’s going on to them,” Aleksinko continues. “They do not yet have the cognitive power to really understand the intricacies of the politics of the situation.”
While displayed in a busy spot on campus, very few students stopped to observe the exhibit. Most were taking their break from class sitting, studying, or reading. But Aleksinko remains passionate.
“We hope to spread awareness that these people exist,” said Aleksinko. “That they are being repressed and that we should be doing our utmost to advocate for the rights of children.”