We Are Not Numbers is a Palestinian youth advocacy organisation that tells the human experiences behind the numbers in the news from Gaza — sharing and celebrating these stories through their website and social media channels.
We Are Not Numbers (WANN) was founded by American journalist Pam Bailey and young Gazan, Ahmed Alnaouq. During the 2014 Israeli attack on Gaza, Ahmed’s elder brother, Ayman, 23, and a group of their friends were killed by an Israeli missile. Pam recognised that the best way for Ahmed to start to emerge from the crippling loss and depression he felt was to write his story and share it with the world outside Gaza.
When the world talks about Palestinians living under occupation and in refugee camps, especially in Gaza, it usually does so in terms of politics and numbers — specifically, how many were killed, injured, are homeless or dependent on aid. But numbers are impersonal and often numbing. They don’t convey the daily personal struggles and triumphs, the tears and the laughter and the aspirations of young people in Gaza.
We Are Not Numbers was created to give voice to these stories and to train and equip young writers to write their stories for an international audience. WANN has operated under Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor’s auspices but has been run by young people from Gaza. Each year, WANN recruits a new cohort of young writers who receive training and mentoring from experienced international authors.
Amos Trust has undertaken several joint projects with WANN and has supported their work since 2020. Shortly after the war began on Gaza following the 7th October 2023 attack, the WANN team approached Amos to help them pay their writers for the stories they were producing — the first time they had done so.
In this way, not only would they be creating a unique first-hand account of the experiences of those living through the unfolding genocide, but they would also be providing these young writers with a vital, dignified income source.
Take a look through our range of resources, blog posts, downloads and products to find out more about our Palestine Justice work.
“All of our work is a struggle right now, but we continue; we never stop. We are equipped with hope, empowered by people like our friends who support Amos Trust, determined to do what is best for our people.” Zoughbi Zoughbi from Wi'am Conflict Resolution Centre speaks to Katie Hagley.
At Amos Trust, ‘We do Hope’. Our monthly Stories of Hope blog post and email normally celebrates our partners around the world. But this month, we would like to celebrate all of you, our supporters, who, over the last 6 months, have been amazing at coming together to speak out, march and raise funds for our emergency appeal for Gaza and the West Bank.
This May, we have covered a lot of kilometres on the bike. From the hilly Lake District to the South of France, our supporters have been getting in the saddle in solidarity with Gaza and the West Bank and fundraising for our emergency appeal. Amos’ Meg Williams writes.
Amos has partnered with Al Ahli Baptist Hospital for over 30 years. On 17th October 2023, its diagnostic unit was hit by a shell in the first days of the war. Then on 17th October, Al Ahli was the first hospital in Gaza to be hit by a rocket. Read our blog post about the hospital one year on.
The UK is failing to stand up for international law, as Israeli forces are forcibly transferring civilians from northern Gaza to the south and relentlessly bombarding the area, making it uninhabitable and stripping away the essential conditions that sustain life. Read the full statement from 15 organisations.
“Despite a signed agreement outlining the Palestinians right to live there, these residents of Sheikh Jarrah have recently received a number of eviction orders, so that their homes can be given over to Jewish Israeli citizens who claim historic ownership of the land.” Ibrahim Abul-Essad writes about Jerusalem’s ongoing catastrophe.
“It was many years before I had the opportunity to meet and hear from Palestinians face to face. And it turned out to be decisive in pushing my thoughts and feelings forward.” Monday 29th November was the United Nations Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian people. Our Chair of trustees, Robert Cohen, gave these reflections to mark the day during our Beautiful Resistance carol service tour in Leeds.
In the 1970s, the Israeli government made public displays of the Palestinian flag a criminal offence in Gaza and the West Bank. Palestinian artists began to circumvent the ban by using the watermelon because, when cut open, the fruit bears the national colours of the Palestinian flag — red, black, white and green. So, the humble watermelon became a representation of Palestinian resistance to this day.
In the future, the ‘7th October’ will hold a place of particular significance. For Israel, it will be remembered because of the loss of 1,200 lives, the brutality of the Hamas attack and the fate of 251 hostages. For Palestinians, and those who have watched the events of the last year unfold, it will be remembered for the destruction and hatred unleashed on Gaza that has left 40,000 dead, 10,000 missing, 100,000 injured, 2 million displaced and so much destruction.
Amos Trust
7 Bell Yard, London
WC2A 2JR
UK
Telephone:
+44 (0) 203 725 3493
Email:
[email protected]
Registered Charity No.
1164234
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