Gazan sisters turn rubble into building blocks for hope

Teenage sisters Tala and Farah Mousa have developed a response to Gaza’s destruction. Their Build Hope Palestine project crushes and sieves rubble, combines it with local clay, ash or glass powder, then moulds and dries the mixture into reusable blocks. Pretty clever.

It won the Middle East category of The Earth Prize and $12,500 in funding. Designed for uses such as pavements and partitions, the project aims to train 100 young people to make 200 blocks and pass the method onward.

Instead of viewing rubble only as destruction, the sisters—whose home was bombed—have found possibility despite war. Gilbert believes Gaza should be rebuilt, with Palestinians and Israelis playing a meaningful role in shaping its future. Using local materials could give young people practical skills and ownership of their territory’s recovery.

However, these blocks cannot rebuild Gaza alone. They are not intended for structural walls, while their safety and consistency require further testing. Wider reconstruction will need peace, enormous investment, dangerous debris cleared and building materials.

Nevertheless, the sisters show why those most affected by this conflict can help lead in the rebuilding.