Students from the Expressive Arts Therapy Program at the Faculty of Fine Arts – Department of Music and Visual Arts at An-Najah National University participated, on Wednesday and Thursday, October 14 and 15, 2026, in specialized training on managing and facilitating group sessions for children under the age of ten, in collaboration with the Palestinian Child Institute at the University.
The training concluded with a practical field activity held in the town of Qusin, at the Garden Halls, targeting children affected by settler attacks against residents of the town during the olive harvest season. The students participated in a range of artistic and expressive activities aimed at providing children with a safe space to express their feelings and strengthening their ability to interact and communicate amid the difficult circumstances they are experiencing.
Five students from the program participated in the training and practical activities: Suhur Yousef Ahmad Ishtayeh, Zainab Abd Al-Latif Ahmad Hannani, Sham Mohammad Ibrahim Nazzal, Shaden Mahmoud Ahmad Hammad, and Faten Amjad Saad Afouri. The students had the opportunity to apply the knowledge and skills they acquired during the training in a field setting, enhancing their practical experience and highlighting the importance of using art as a means of providing psychological and social support to children.
This participation is part of the Faculty of Fine Arts’ commitment to connecting academic learning with practical and community-based applications, while providing students with opportunities to utilize their knowledge and skills in serving the community, particularly groups most affected by challenging psychological and social circumstances.
For his part, Dean of the Faculty of Fine Arts, Dr. Hani Al-Faran, emphasized the importance of supporting such activities and initiatives, which reflect the humanitarian and community-oriented role of the arts and contribute to strengthening the University’s engagement in initiatives aimed at supporting children and affected communities. He also highlighted the importance of providing students with opportunities to apply their fields of study in practice and actively contribute to community service.
This participation highlights the importance of the Expressive Arts Therapy Program in utilizing the arts as a means of expression and psychological and social support. It also reflects the role of An-Najah National University students in community and humanitarian initiatives aimed at supporting children and strengthening their ability to express themselves and interact with others.
