REFLECTION 1 (PORTO)

From every meeting with everyone I genuinely learnt how much kindness matters, how caring for people can be so beautiful and important even if you’ve never met them. Since indifference is being used as a weapon, everyone and especially the teachers and organizers showed how kindness too can be used, but as a shield.

From talking with Osama, who is always excited and eager to chat, I learnt how to be grateful. From talking with Taqwa and Farah, who are always polite, very kind and ready to work, I learnt a lot about work ethic and again, kindness. With Raghad, who is very funny and caring, I learnt how you can be friends with people no matter how far apart and how different you are. 

Also, a very brief exchange with Hala in the groupchat left a mark so big on me that I still think about it to this day: People were thinking about the word saudade and trying to define it. That’s when Hala told me it was very important to her to be able to describe her feelings clearly, because and I quote “I feel responsible for everything I experience.”. I found this so touching because we are so often prone to blaming everything and everyone else but us, and here is someone in a horrible situation, that is in no way her fault, but she still feels responsible for those experiences. Responsible for feeling and living them, responsible for processing them and for describing them in writing. I can confidently say that some of the strongest people I’ve met, I met in this project. 

The main challenge I faced was on how to wrap my head around the paradox I witnessed: How can everyone in this project be so kind, how can this project be so filled with humanity and humane feelings, when the world has decided Palestine isn’t deserving of any?

Taqwa used to refer to Damian as Mr. Damian, but she told me she started addressing him as kind Damian instead. The simplest gesture can be so revealing of someone’s humanity. I thought it was so moving to see someone who has never met our university teacher have the care and attention to do this small, almost invisible gesture, that carries so much significance.

The two ever-present feelings throughout this project have been unwavering kindness and almost stubborn strength. I felt it in every meeting, every text people sent. As I said, in the foundation of this project is kindness and strength, but the difference between the two is that kindness is infinite, while strength isn’t. So how can this world, our world ignore these strong people? Where have we gone wrong? 

We were sold this idea that everything bad done by humanity has been done in the past, that it can’t happen in our times. But it is our duty as human beings to open our eyes for once and look around. Look at Palestine, look at South Sudan, look at the Congo, look at Tigray. The atrocities are being committed now, in our times just the same. The choice to remain “neutral” is nonetheless a choice. You can’t turn away from the world, a world that desperately needs kindness and empathy.

There is a line from one of Taqwa’s articles that has stuck with me ever since I read it: “Shame on a world that counts their deaths, but not their dreams.”

REFLECTION 2 (GAZA)

1. What would you like to say about your experience in this project?

My experience with Lines to the Future was truly special. I’ve taken part in different workshops before, but this project felt deeply different. There was something so human and heartfelt about it. The people leading it weren’t just organizers; they were present, caring, and incredibly supportive—like they were part of us, not above us.

The participants were equally warm and open. It felt like we became a small family, bound together by both our struggles and our hope. The project offered a space that felt like another world—almost dreamlike. A place where we could hear what we don’t normally hear in real life, and feel a rare sense of safety.

Especially living under war, where fear and pressure are constant, this project became an emotional refuge. A space where we could breathe, imagine, and speak freely. We weren’t just making films—we were living through something meaningful and transformative. It felt like stepping into an alternate world where, even for a moment, we were simply alive again.

2. To what extent did the project meet your expectations? Was there anything surprising or disappointing?

This project went far beyond my expectations. I didn’t anticipate how deeply it would affect us, especially during a time of war and overwhelming stress. For the first time in so long, I felt like someone was truly listening. When we asked for support, we were met with genuine care and humanity—not treated like numbers, not pitied, but seen.

What made this experience so special is that it wasn’t just about filmmaking or learning—it was a human space for release, reflection, and truth-telling. Even though I’m not the type to participate much, I found myself engaging and contributing—not because I had to, but because I wanted to. I felt safe.

Some of the most powerful moments were simply realizing that we weren’t alone. We were able to speak the things we usually can’t, and share experiences without fear. These sessions were like a parallel reality where we could escape the drones, the news, the exhaustion. A place where we reminded each other: “We exist, and our voices matter.”

3. Are there any moments or stories you would like to mention?

One moment I’ll never forget was when I shared a poem I had written. It was the first time I had ever shared something that personal in the group. Normally, I don’t like to send my work to anyone, even though I work with platforms—I just don’t like showing it. 

What happened next completely surprised me. Every single person—organizers, peers—responded with genuine encouragement and kindness. Their responses were warm, honest, and deeply respectful. I suddenly felt seen, like what I wrote actually mattered.

That moment unlocked something in me. It reminded me that this was more than a project—it was a safe space, a soft landing. It was a world where we were treated with care, and valued for who we really are.

4. What did you learn from this experience, if anything?

I didn’t learn many things in the conventional sense, but what I did learn changed my perspective completely. For a long time, I felt bitterness toward the outside world—toward its silence and indifference. We’ve lived under bombardment, in inhumane conditions, while the world just watched. I felt invisible.

But this project and its people showed me that not everyone is the same. I learned that there are people beyond Gaza who genuinely support us—with their hearts and spirits—even if they’re far from our reality. Some participants truly felt our pain and understood our struggles. They didn’t come with pity or performative concern, but with sincere connection. That gave me a little piece of trust back.

On a practical level, I also learned how to manage time under pressure. My team and I joined the project late, yet we stayed committed and worked hard to meet every deadline. It showed me that even in chaos, I can still stay organized.

5. What were the main challenges you encountered?

There were many. The biggest was the war itself—genocide, hunger, displacement, destruction. Everything was collapsing around us, and still, we were trying to hold onto a thin thread of hope through a creative project.

I wish we could’ve experienced this in a world where dreams didn’t die under rubble. But reality had other plans. The internet was another daily battle—unstable, unreliable. It took immense effort just to upload a file or join a meeting.

I also had a personal barrier at first—I didn’t want to talk to anyone from outside Gaza. I thought, “Why should I? They ignored our suffering.” That hurt made me want to shut myself off. But that changed as the team’s support became clearer. Their sincerity broke through the wall.

The ongoing war cast a shadow over everything—bombings, hunger, fear. It all impacted our mental health, and made it hard to separate life from the project. Still, we clung to it like a lifeline.

Even the project’s name—Lines to the Future—offered hope. If we couldn’t fulfill our dreams in reality, maybe we could reach them in imagination.

One of the hardest emotions was the sense of injustice. Others were working in normal conditions—electricity, safety, calm homes. Meanwhile, we were under airstrikes, in tents, just trying to find food. That contrast was painful. I kept asking myself: Why us? Aren’t we human too?

Despite all that, we held on. This project became a window—a chance to survive emotionally, even if just a little.

I kept feeling like life was continuing outside Gaza while everything here felt frozen. That contrast was deeply painful, and made me feel isolated even within the project sometimes.

6. What would you say to students considering a project like this?

I would tell them: Don’t hesitate. Even if your situation is hard, even if you doubt yourself, step into it. This kind of project isn’t just about learning new skills—it’s about finding a place where you can open up, understand others, and rebuild hope.

Even if you feel scared at first—as I did—the support you’ll receive will help you move past that fear. This project showed me that every story is worth telling, and that we shouldn’t be afraid to share our voice, no matter how fragile it may feel.

It won’t always be easy. But the challenges will make you stronger, more aware. You’ll discover that art and expression are powerful tools—ones that can carry you toward connection, healing, and maybe even freedom.

So keep dreaming, keep trying. Life goes on, and hope is always there.

7. Is there a question you wish we had asked? If so, what is it—and what’s your answer?

There isn’t really a missing question, but I would like to end with something simple: gratitude.

Thank you to every single person who made this project possible—for your time, your effort, your patience, and your care. Thank you for being more than facilitators or participants—you were friends, companions in a moment when we needed to feel less alone.

Thank you for creating a space where we could feel safe, express pain, and dream of something bigger than our current reality. Thank you for being a small light in a very dark time.

This experience will stay with me—not as just another project, but as something that shifted something inside me. It opened a window in my heart—to the world, and to myself.

REFLECTION 3 (PORTO)

At first, I was slightly apprehensive about joining the project because the filmmaking aspect was something completely outside of my comfort zone, as an international relations student, a decidedly uncreative major. Despite the initial hesitation, I am so glad I joined because not only was I able to meet so many kind and talented people from Gaza I probably never would’ve met otherwise, but I also made new friends in Portugal along the way through the project. It was and still is a very emotionally deep and charged project. Despite having engaged with Palestinian liberation movements for years now, long before this current spike in aggression and occupation, having personally connected with so many people now adds a new layer to it in my heart. As, once again, a not-very-creative person, despite deeply appreciating art, it was wonderful and a highlight to get to experience and read plenty of other participants’ poems and writing and I admire how eager they are to share it with all of us. Surprisingly (for me), the filmmaking (particularly the actual filming) was not that stressful and quite fun. It was an interesting exercise and learning moment in resourcefulness, as figuring out how to transfer our ideas into reality and adapting it to our circumstances and non-existent budget was a large part of it. Something that I also found quite delightful and frankly unexpected was that many of us, despite cultural differences, had similar tastes in film (a particular highlight was Lord of the Rings). I also learned a lot about filmmaking through Ali and David, which I really appreciated, as I am quite passionate about film (as a viewer).

REFLECTION 4 (GAZA

•⁠  ⁠What would you like to say about your experience on this project? [e.g., in relation to personal relations, the films, culture, getting to know other people and contexts, emotions, interactions, etc.]

Participating in this project was a really great opportunity. I got to know people from different countries, wonderful people in every sense of the word, whether it was doctors, project coordinators, or students from Portugal. They were all wonderful. The communication was as if I was communicating with people I have known for a long time. They were full of love and kindness. As for the project, I am very happy to be part of it, as it was a means to convey our voice as the people of Gaza in light of this genocide. Through it, we shared our daily lives, the news, and what the Israeli occupation is committing against us, from famine, displacement, and the killing of innocent children and the elderly. 

•⁠  ⁠To what extent did the project meet your expectations? Did anything surprise or disappoint you? 

At first, when I decided to join the project, to be honest, I expected that it would be boring and that I would not benefit from it, but from the first meeting, it became clear to me that the opposite was completely true. It was a meeting full of spontaneity, encouragement, and support for us. I was very happy with this thing, and every meeting was more enjoyable and beneficial than the one before it, as Ali would give us enjoyable PowerPoint presentations in which he explained to us the mechanism of filming, editing, and everything related to filmmaking. It was enjoyable.

•⁠  ⁠Are there any moments or stories that you would like to mention?

The moments that I love the most and remember from time to time are when I showed the movie to our audience during the meeting and everyone liked it and they showered me with nice, encouraging comments. At that time, I was very happy that the movie was wonderful and everyone liked it and my effort was not in vain.

•⁠  ⁠What did you learn, if anything?

I learned a lot of filming and editing strategies, and I would like to thank Ali in particular for this, because he was following up with me at all stages, writing me comments on the editing. I was happy when I read them and learned new techniques from him. 

•⁠  ⁠What were the main challenges you encountered?

To be honest, I faced several obstacles at all stages, starting from writing the script to finding the characters and locations, and then the inability to go out to film in Gaza, because the Israeli occupation was targeting public places without prior warning, which led to the killing of large numbers of passers-by in the streets. Going out was a great danger for me, in addition to the lack of means of transportation, so we were forced to walk long distances under the scorching sun to reach the places where we would film. 

•⁠  ⁠What would you say to students considering starting a project like this? 

I would like to tell them that it is a very wonderful and stimulating idea that expands your thinking and makes you look at the world and deal with new people in a different way and with a more conscious view. It is true that it requires a great effort, but if you choose the team well, the work and results will be wonderful, as each person shows his talents and ideas and shares them with others, so the work will be collective with amazing results.

Reflection 5 (Gaza)

What would you like to say about your experience on this project? (e.g., in relation to personal relations, the films, culture, getting to know other people and contexts, emotions, interactions, etc.)

It was a very enjoyable and emotional experience. We talked about different cultures, especially between Gaza and Portugal, and this cultural exchange meant a lot to me. For example, I was deeply touched by the word “Saudade” — it expresses a kind of longing that really connects with our feelings in Gaza.

I made new friendships with the team, and we felt like a small family. We shared happy and sad moments, supported each other, and encouraged every person in whatever they created — whether it was writing a poem, filming a scene, or presenting new ideas. The environment was full of kindness and motivation.

Also, Ali, David, and Damian were always helping us grow — improving our filming, editing, and writing. I truly gained skills that I will use in my future life and career.

To what extent did the project meet your expectations? Did anything surprise or disappoint you?

The project went far beyond my expectations. At first, I thought it would be a simple activity, maybe just an exchange of ideas or something related to film. But I was surprised to find out that it was a full creative process where we actually wrote a story, filmed it, and edited it ourselves, step by step. It was a unique experience—something completely different from anything I had done before. What truly surprised me was that we, as students, were able to produce a real piece of work with a clear idea and message. This gave me more confidence in myself and in my ability to be creative.

Are there any moments or stories that you would like to mention?

Yes, one of the most emotional moments for me was the day my cousin drowned. The whole team sent me comforting messages, both in the group and privately on WhatsApp, just to check on me and support me. It really touched my heart. Also, when I didn’t have internet for a long time and couldn’t participate in the group, Sahar personally messaged me to ask if I was okay. That was such a beautiful feeling — to know that even though we are far from each other physically, I am surrounded by people who truly care.

What did you learn, if anything?

I learned many valuable things from this project, both creatively and personally. Creatively, I learned how to turn an idea into a real story and express it through filming and editing — something I had never tried before. I also learned how to write reflective pieces, how to work with a team, and how to accept feedback to improve my work. Personally, I learned that my voice matters — that even in difficult situations, I can still create something meaningful and be heard. Most importantly, I discovered the power of storytelling in sharing our emotions, memories, and even our pain.

What were the main challenges you encountered?

I faced several challenges during the project, most of them related to the difficult situation in Gaza. One of the biggest was the frequent internet outages, which made it very hard to join meetings or send my work on time. There was also a lot of emotional pressure — living through war, constantly moving from one place to another, losing loved ones, and dealing with ongoing fear. All of this affected my focus and energy. Still, I tried my best to stay committed and contribute as much as I could. This experience taught me resilience and how to keep going even when everything around me feels like it’s falling apart.

What would you say to students considering starting a project like this?

To any student thinking about joining a project like this, I would say: do it without hesitation. It’s more than just a filmmaking or writing project — it’s a journey of growth. You will learn so much about yourself and others, discover new cultures, and find your own voice. You’ll also build real friendships and develop skills that will help you in both your academic and personal life. Even if you face difficulties, like I did, you’ll realize how strong and creative you can be. This kind of project is not just work — it’s healing, it’s connection, and it’s hope.

✨ Final Reflection 

Despite all the hardships we face in Gaza — from constant internet outages, displacement, and the loss of loved ones — this project was a space of hope and light. It was not just an artistic or academic task, but a chance to express ourselves, to share, and to feel that our voices truly matter. I’m deeply grateful to everyone who was part of this journey. I hope our messages reach the world and touch hearts.

Reflection 6 (Gaza)

I would like to begin by saying that I am both a student and a person with visual impairment. I feel truly happy and proud to be part of the Lines2Future project. This project came at a very critical time here in Gaza, and it means a lot to me on many levels.

For the past two years, Gaza has been suffering deeply—not only in terms of people’s lives but also through the destruction of nature, of trees and stones alike. Despite all this, we were able to turn the damage into inspiration, and we created strong and meaningful ideas that became the heart of our films.

As someone with a visual impairment, I was excited to participate, even though I wasn’t sure how I could manage it. But the project offered something truly unique—it brought together creative writing, storytelling, and the transformation of thoughts into film. This combination made it easier for us to learn, grow, and imagine the future.

What also made Lines2Future so special is that it connected people from distant places—geographically far from each other, but emotionally united. Even though we live under siege in Gaza, and even though we suffer from weak internet and harsh conditions, we managed to stay in touch with our teammates from Porto and other areas. That alone was a challenge we overcame with determination.

The cultural diversity was so enriching. Our films reflected different environments and lives, and that contrast brought me joy. Seeing our stories and theirs side by side showed the beauty of diversity.

Also, the project leaders were amazing. They were patient, always ready to support us through any challenge. They answered our questions, guided us step by step, and made sure we understood everything clearly—even when things were difficult for some of us.

This project taught me that giving up is never an option. Every challenge we face is a chance to grow stronger. And when I saw the difficulties others were facing, I realized I wasn’t alone. Sometimes, suffering is the road that leads to success.

Dr Nazmi Al-Masri

I don’t know how to start or what to say after this truly mind-provoking and heart-touching joint activity and collaboration. I feel as though I’ve lost my ability to communicate my feelings—even as an applied linguist—but I will try to say something. First of all, my thanks and gratitude go to all the teams, the trainers, the project teams, and the students of both universities, Porto and Gaza.

I learned a valuable lesson today from watching this film: hand in hand, we can always achieve our dreams through collaboration. I also learned a lesson from my students—that they are far more talented than I ever imagined. I am always proud of them, and I often say that they can challenge the world. Now I can truly see that they can: in filmmaking, creative writing, academia, research, and so many other fields.

It is touching to see them and to listen to what they said so creatively. I was glad to see the poetic language and the poems, especially the work of Refaat—his poem “If I Must Die” means so much to me. Refaat was once my student, about twenty years ago. This film took me back to his story—a story of success that represents so many of our students, our Palestinian heroes.

This motivates me to work even harder to support them. They are in great need of encouragement and opportunities, and they excel at making use of opportunities when they arise. One of the lessons I take from this is to be even more devoted to my students: from one course to another, from one partnership to another, from one project to another, involving as many students as possible.

The impact of these opportunities is clear. Two weeks ago, we held a welcome session for new students who had just finished school and knew nothing about university life. We invited students like Amera and Taqwa and Ahed to speak about these projects, and many new students said they wanted to join the English Language Department because it offers opportunities to communicate internationally and collaborate with universities.

This project is not just a video or a film. It is partnership, collaboration, humanity, responsibility, sustainability, and the widening of networks between Porto, Glasgow, and Gaza. All of this makes me happy today and motivates me, despite the many things happening around us that can be demotivating. But the motivation I gain from your success — teams, partners, students — can overcome all the demotivation easily.

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