Humans of Nablus 58

Hello, my name is Tia Hijazi. I’m from Nablus, a city I love for its beauty and its uniqueness. Its historic neighborhoods and buildings carry stories and memories through generations. I come from a relatively large family, and their support means the world to me.

I graduated from An-Najah University with a degree in English Language and Literature. I am passionate about languages, and I would even say I have a knack for it – besides Arabic, I can speak English, French, and Portuguese. Alongside my studies, I found joy in reading and writing, and I run an Instagram page where I share my thoughts and writings with others.

I first learned about TYO through my cousin, who had participated in an English conversation course with the international interns here. Hearing her stories about the organization’s supportive community and its impact on children and youth sparked my interest. I saw TYO as a space for personal growth too – a place where I could learn more about working with children from diverse backgrounds and give back to my community.

My day at TYO begins with planning educational and recreational activities for children, encouraging them to express themselves and building essential social skills. I always discuss each child’s needs with the teachers and other volunteers, to make sure we are providing a safe and nurturing environment. And it brings me a lot of joy when I see children engaging with the activities, building new skills, making new friends…

One of my favorite parts about volunteering at TYO is the positive and collaborative atmosphere; I learn something new every day. It is also rewarding to witness and contribute to the impact TYO has on the community. Our work here is essential, for we allow children and youth from difficult backgrounds to grow, learn, and develop in a happy and healthy way. 

Looking to the future, I have big dreams. I hope to start my own business, and I want to continue my studies in music, especially the violin. My goal is to find ways to integrate both my passions: art and education.