Meet Sanaa Salem

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Sanaa Salem. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Sanaa, thanks so much for taking the time to share your insights and lessons with us today. We’re particularly interested in hearing about how you became such a resilient person. Where do you get your resilience from?

I believe my resilience comes from a deep sense of responsibility and love for my community. Growing up in a place affected by war and displacement, I witnessed suffering from a young age, but I also witnessed strength. My parents, neighbors, and teachers all found ways to keep going, to smile, to help each other even when they had so little. I carry that spirit with me. Whenever I face a challenge, I remember the children who depend on me and the dream of building something better for them. That vision gives me strength, even in the darkest moments.

There were times when I felt completely helpless, when food was scarce, when the future felt uncertain, and when fear filled the air more than hope. But in those moments, I found something else: a fire inside me. I began to realize that I couldn’t wait for change, I had to be part of it. When I helped open the school and saw the children smiling, learning, and eating together, I knew that every hardship I had faced had shaped me for this purpose.

Resilience, for me, is not about being strong all the time. It’s about showing up, again and again, even when I feel weak. It’s about choosing love over fear, and action over silence. I carry the stories of my students, my family, and my community with me, and they give me the courage to keep going.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

I run a small community-based school in a conflict-affected area. It began as a simple idea, just a safe place where children could learn, eat, and feel cared for. Over time it grew into something deeper: a space of healing, hope, and resilience. We currently provide education, food, and emotional support to children who have been displaced or affected by war, and we do it with very limited resources but limitless heart.

What makes this work special to me is the joy I see in the students’ eyes when they feel safe, when they understand something new, or when they simply get to be kids again. Watching them grow, laugh, and dream, even in the middle of hardship, is the most beautiful reward I could ask for.

Right now we’re in an exciting phase of expansion. We started with 20 students and now we’re growing to 50 and hopefully more in the coming months. Every child we add means more meals, more lessons, more hope, and more responsibility. We’re currently raising funds to support this growth, and every contribution makes a real difference in the lives of these children.

I hope people know that you don’t have to wait for the perfect moment to make a change. You can start small with whatever you have. That’s what I did, and it’s turning into something powerful.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Looking back, I believe the three most impactful qualities in my journey have been compassion, persistence, and adaptability.

Compassion was the reason I started. I couldn’t ignore the needs of the children around me, and that emotional connection gave my work meaning. It taught me to listen deeply, to care beyond words, and to always remember the human side of every challenge.

Persistence kept me going. During the war on Gaza, there were days when I had to walk long distances to buy food, knowing that I was risking my safety just to make sure the children had something to eat. The school had no power, no proper supplies, but I showed up anyway. I taught them with my voice when we had no electricity, and served them food I had carried myself. I was exhausted and scared, but I kept going because they needed me to.

Adaptability helped me survive. In a place where circumstances change constantly, being flexible and creative was essential. I had to learn how to make things work with whatever I had. One day it was teaching under the stairs during an airstrike, another day it was calming a child through play while trying to stay safe in a corner, far from the danger outside. Plans changed every hour, but the mission remained the same.

For those just starting their journey, I’d say don’t wait until you feel ready. Start with what you have, even if it’s small. Let your compassion guide you, let your persistence carry you, and stay open to learning as you go. You don’t need to have all the answers at the beginning, just the courage to begin.

To close, maybe we can chat about your parents and what they did that was particularly impactful for you?

The most impactful thing my parents did for me was teaching me the importance of selflessness, community, and dedication, especially during the most difficult times. I vividly remember a time when we were facing a severe shortage of food and money. It was a period of famine, and my family was struggling to make ends meet. Instead of looking for a way to earn money for themselves, my parents made a decision that would shape me forever. They gave up one of our rooms and turned it into a school for children in need. They could have rented the room out for money to survive, but they chose to offer it as a safe space for learning instead.

That act of selflessness taught me the true meaning of giving and being a part of something bigger than ourselves. It wasn’t just about surviving; it was about helping others survive, too. My parents showed me that when we contribute to our community, even in the smallest ways, we create a ripple effect of kindness and support.

In addition to that, they also created a water project for the displaced camp where we lived. In a time of dire need, they organized a system to provide clean water to the families in the camp. This was a huge act of service, and it taught me that no matter the circumstances, we can always find a way to help those around us.

My parents taught me the value of being dedicated to a cause greater than ourselves, and that lesson has stayed with me throughout my life, especially in my work with the school.

Contact Info:

• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@school.in.gaza?_t=ZS-8wIVno7iXay&_r=1

  https://www.tiktok.com/@sano21996?_t=ZS-8wIVmM61Yxe&_r=1