Two teenage sisters from Gaza have received a major environmental award after creating reusable bricks from rubble left by destroyed buildings. They say their goal is to turn destruction into something practical that can support rebuilding efforts.
Life Amid Displacement
Tala and Farah Mousa have been living in a tent after repeated displacement caused by the ongoing conflict. Their home was destroyed, and they have since faced constant relocation and harsh living conditions.
Despite this, they continued working on a solution inspired by the damage surrounding them.
Turning Rubble into Building Material
The sisters developed a method to recycle rubble into construction bricks. They crush debris, sieve it, and then mix it with materials such as clay, ash, and powdered glass.
They tested early versions of the bricks by using them to support a neighbor’s tent during bad weather.
Motivation Behind the Idea
Tala explained that the destruction around them became their motivation to act. Instead of seeing broken buildings as only loss, they chose to view them as a starting point for rebuilding.
Farah said they wanted to turn something negative into something useful and help their community take part in rebuilding efforts directly.
Recognition and Future Plans
The sisters were named regional winners of the Middle East category of the youth environmental award Earth Prize.
They plan to use the prize money to train around 100 young people in producing the same bricks. Their goal is to help produce at least 200 bricks through community workshops.
They also want local people to play an active role in reconstruction instead of depending only on external assistance.
Wider Context
Large scale displacement has affected millions in Gaza since the conflict escalated in 2023. The destruction has created vast amounts of rubble across urban areas, making rebuilding a major challenge.
