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 (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.