The Global Sumud Flotilla, which was attacked by Israeli forces on 18 May as it attempted to relieve the blockade of Gaza, was carrying an array of humanitarian aid.
Onboard could be found food, water, baby formula and medical supplies. There was something else: kits designed to make bubbles, small enough to take anywhere.
These kits, made from soap, water, rope and sticks, are the brainchild of Bubbles Not Bombs (BNB), a grassroots project that aims to bring children in war zones and displaced children some respite through mindful play with bubbles.
Having been run for 15 years through Dr Zigs, a Welsh eco-friendly toy company that promotes play as a tool for supporting children’s emotional wellbeing in crisis settings, BNB has just become its own non-profit organisation.
Paola Dyboski, a 56-year-old who grew up in Italy, is the woman behind Dr Zigs and BNB. “Every child around the world plays with bubbles,” she tells Middle East Eye. “We’re simply trying to give kids in conflict moments of play.”
