Repurposed Ambulance Becomes 'Dream Bus' for Gaza's Displaced Children

A war-damaged ambulance in the Gaza Strip has been given a new life as a mobile recreation and psychosocial support unit for displaced children, travelling between displacement camps under the name "Dream Bus."

The vehicle offers a small cinema, traditional games, sports, art and drawing activities. At one recent stop, dozens of children gathered inside a makeshift tent to watch cartoons, with an instructor nearby.

"We had been waiting for the Dream Bus since the morning. It was a dream for us, and now it has come true. Since the war began, I've wished to go to a cinema and watch 'Masha and the Bear.' You brought the cinema to us and made our dreams come true," said Zainab Abu Ziada, a displaced Palestinian child.

For many children in the camps, access to television and recreational activities has become rare amid power shortages and repeated displacement.

"Before the war, we had a normal life. But over the past three years, we have been under tremendous pressure. This is the first time we've been able to watch television and cartoons with electricity available. We're very happy with these activities and films, and we hope there will be more sessions like this for us," said Rahaf Barda, another displaced child.

Beyond screenings, the bus offers singing, a clown, face painting and group activities designed to encourage interaction and self-expression.

"The Dream Bus is a mobile bus carrying a range of activities and traveling between displacement camps. It offers children seven different activity areas, including cinema, traditional games, sports, art and drawing," said Neveen Abdel Hadi, director of the Mental Health Department at the Palestine Red Crescent Society.

A single visit can reach hundreds of children. "Through the Dream Bus, we work to ease the suffering and psychological trauma caused by the war. These games and activities have a significant impact. We have around 300 children here today enjoying themselves because the bus gives them a safe space to practice their hobbies, whether playing or drawing," said social worker Ghaleb Abu Khater.

The need for such support remains extensive. More than 1 million children in Gaza urgently require child protection, mental health services and psychosocial support, according to UNICEF.