Relations between family situations, social work and schools to foster childrens resilience towards violence. Case study in the occupied territories, Tulkarem, Palestine

Swiss partners

• HES-SO, Haute école de travail social Geneva: Joëlle Libois (requérante principale)

• Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, Geneva: Alexandre Dormeier Freire

Partners in the MENA region

• An-Najah National University, Nablus, Palestine: Samah Saleh (requérante principale)

Présentation du projet

The MENA Leading House Seed Money Grant enabled our team to organize two research field missions to Tulkarem in October 2018 and September 2019. These missions aimed to explore the complex phenomenon of violence within schools and families, and to identify gaps in social work practices and coordination among actors involved in violence mitigation. 

The first mission focused on gathering data on forms of violence in schools and mapping stakeholders engaged in prevention efforts. Meetings with teachers, school counsellors, headmasters, local authorities, and social workers revealed a critical shortage of trained social workers. Additional challenges emerged, including cultural taboos around discussing family issues with outsiders and misconceptions about the role of social workers, often confused with psychiatrists. Our analysis confirmed outdated reports of violence in schools and highlighted broader issues such as domestic violence, suicide (a taboo topic), drug abuse, and even cases of “honour killings.” The diversity of actors—school counsellors, hospital-affiliated social workers, community workers—further complicates coordination and effectiveness of interventions.

The second mission expanded the scope to include women’s associations, academic experts, and local organizations. Discussions revealed how socio-political factors, such as the separation wall and economic pressures, have disrupted family structures, increasing vulnerability to abuse. Emerging trends—such as women crossing the wall for work, greater media access, and shifting gender roles—are reshaping family dynamics and require deeper research. Current mitigation efforts rely heavily on awareness campaigns and psychosocial support, with limited systemic capacity for prevention and intervention. Innovative approaches, such as participatory art-based methods and interactive tools, are urgently needed to address complex forms of violence.

Article published in Animation, territoires et pratiques socioculturelles