Near the Sea by A. from Gaza, Palestine – Photo Essay –

Going near to the sea is a ritual for many of us, a tradition that begins with family holidays and long weekends with friends. Close your eyes and you’ll probably be able to conjure up the sound of waves. Nothing can bring you more pleasure than being there. You don’t need much more than a comfortable seat, warm waters, and good book to read
To me, living in the Gaza Strip is like being trapped in a tuna can, so the only place I can go to is the sea-front.

This is just one example of the important work produced YaLa’s citizen journalists, a program funded by the European Union’s Peacebuilding Initiative in order to enable young leaders from across the Middle East and North Africa to document and share their experiences of the region.