Lacking equipment, but not ambition: Gaza students try to keep up with tech

Gaza’s technology sector, once touted as a beacon of hope for the enclave’s disenfranchised youth, lies in ruins today. The devastating war has destroyed physical infrastructure and crippled the digital economy, leaving a trail of devastation that will take years to rebuild.

A group of students in central Gaza is managing to keep their passion for robotics and innovation alive despite the odds. They have been working with scraps of electronic components and basic circuit boards on projects such as developing robots and early warning systems. The “Next Gen” project, which aims to educate budding tech experts, is a testament to the indomitable spirit of Gaza’s young people.

However, scratch beneath the surface, and it becomes clear that this story is not just one of resilience but also of systemic failure. The war has decimated the education sector, with schools, universities, and research facilities repeatedly targeted by Israel. Preliminary estimates put direct losses to the education sector at a staggering $4 billion, with 17 higher education institutions completely or partially destroyed.

The IT industry, once a rare source of foreign income for Gaza’s economy, now operates at less than 25 percent of pre-war levels. More than 70 percent of IT companies have halted operations due to damage to digital infrastructure and skyrocketing prices of technical equipment – up by over 600 percent due to the ongoing siege.

The loss of a vibrant tech sector not only hampers economic growth but also stifles innovation, leaving young people with limited opportunities to develop their skills. As Ahmad Abu Qamar, an economic affairs specialist, notes, the IT industry was once a rare source of employment for university graduates entering a job market with high unemployment.

In this context, the “Next Gen” project takes on new significance. Despite the odds stacked against them, these students are not only learning to develop robots and early warning systems but also demonstrating their capacity to adapt and innovate in the face of adversity. Their research could one day lead to life-saving innovations that benefit not just Gaza but the wider region.

The destruction of education infrastructure and digital economies is a pattern that repeats itself across conflict zones around the world. In Syria, for example, schools and universities have been repeatedly targeted by forces on all sides of the conflict.

International cooperation to rebuild and protect education infrastructure in war-torn territories offers one solution. Governments, NGOs, and private companies must come together to provide financial and technical support for initiatives like “Next Gen” that aim to educate and empower young people despite adversity.

As the world grapples with challenges such as climate change, pandemics, and economic inequality, it is essential to recognize the critical role played by education and innovation in driving human progress. Gaza’s lost tech horizon serves as a stark reminder of what we stand to lose when we fail to invest in our collective future.

The fate of Gaza’s young people – and the future of their community – hangs precariously in the balance, as the ongoing conflict continues to take its toll on the territory’s infrastructure and economy.