Al-Qalam 
By Azra Hoosen
Durban’s Al Falaah College (AFC) Alumni are currently helping to restore a partially damaged school in Gaza – and when completed – will accommodate up to 900 pupils.
The Gaza School Project, as it is called, seeks to restore education for hundreds of displaced children affected by the genocide.
Moulana Mohammed Motala, AFC Alumni member, told Al-Qalam how the project came into being and what it aims to achieve.
Moulana Motala described the scale of devastation following the recent ceasefire, when families began returning to what remained of their homes. “Everything was in rubble,” he said.
But the destruction also left the education system in ruins and children without access to schooling. It was in this context that he was contacted by teams on the ground, who highlighted an urgent need beyond food and shelter: the restoration of education.
At the same time, an opportunity for collaboration presented itself.
“It just so happened that Al Falaah College alumni also contacted me wanting to do a project for the people of Gaza. This was the ideal idea to propose to them,” explained Moulana Motala.
Thus, the Gaza School project was born and put into action through Allah’s divine decree. “Within a few days, they raised the funds they needed and are now committed 100%, for this project,” he said.
Moulana Motala said that the focus was on restoring a partially damaged school structure that could still be salvaged.
They looked at a building that was only partially damaged, which could be patched up and refurbished. Plans were shared and approved, allowing work to begin quickly. The refurbishment process includes basic but essential classroom restoration.
“The refurbishment was the first phase, which involved patching up the building, painting the interior, and furnishing it, including installing classroom boards, as well as makeshift desks and benches,” he said.
Moulana Motala said artisans in Gaza are repurposing any material they can find. “These are not the type of desks, chairs, and benches we would find in an ideal school in South Africa. These are currently being made in Gaza using whatever wood they are able to find,” he said.
Despite these challenges, progress has already been made. “The refurbishment phase is now coming to a successful end,” he said.
Once completed, the school will serve around 900 enrolled students, operating in structured cycles. “There have been 900 students who have enrolled in the school. Each cycle will serve 300 students, and the school will operate six days a week,” he added.
He also explained how attendance will be managed practically: “This will be a separated and gender-segregated system, where boys and girls will attend on alternate days, Insha’Allah.”
Beyond infrastructure, the initiative also includes full operational support for its first year. The project has been carefully structured into two funding streams, Lillah and Zakat. Lillah contributions were allocated towards the refurbishment of the school, while the Zakat component is dedicated to covering operational costs. This operational budget has been calculated at R1680 per learner per annum, based on 900 learners. To ensure sustainability, the AFC Alumni have further committed to managing these operational costs on an annual basis.
