Two teenage sisters from Gaza have been honored with an environmental award for their innovative project of transforming rubble into reusable bricks, expressing their desire to “turn destruction into something useful.” Farah and Tala Mousa, who currently reside in a tent and have experienced multiple displacements after their home was destroyed, were recognized as the Middle East regional winners of the youth-focused Earth Prize. “After our entire city turned into rubble, everything around us pushed us to think about a solution,” 17-year-old Tala shared with the BBC. The sisters intend to utilize their $12,500 prize money to educate others on producing these bricks, enabling them to “participate in reconstruction themselves, instead of waiting only for outside help,” according to 15-year-old Farah.
The United Nations estimates that 1.9 million people in Gaza, nearly 90% of the population, have been displaced since the conflict began in 2023, which was triggered by an attack on southern Israel on October 7. Israel subsequently launched a military campaign in the territory. By early 2025, the estimated damage in the strip was projected to reach $70 billion, with millions of tonnes of rubble accumulating in its streets. Farah and Tala developed these blocks near the tent where they were residing after their home was destroyed in August.
The bricks are produced by crushing rubble and sieving the debris, then mixing it with materials such as clay, ash, and glass powder. The girls tested the strength of their blocks by using them to help a neighbor secure their tent during adverse weather. “Low-cost and lightweight,” these bricks are designed for “non-load-bearing use, such as pavements, partitions, and garden beds,” Farah explained to the BBC World Service’s Newsday. The sisters, who unfortunately lost their initial prototype during a previous displacement, stated that they were motivated by the “destruction” surrounding them. “Even the view from our tent window became the main motivation,” Tala remarked. “We transformed something negative into something positive by refusing to see rubble solely as a symbol of destruction and loss.” She further added, “Instead of seeing it as the end, we tried to see it as the beginning of something new.” Their plan includes using the prize money to organize workshops, training approximately 100 young people to create the bricks themselves, with an aim to produce at least 200 bricks.
Global Recognition for Environmental Innovation
The Earth Prize, which recognizes solutions to environmental challenges, has already announced its regional winners for Europe and Africa. An 18-year-old from Ireland was awarded for developing a biodegradable plastic that safely decomposes, while two 17-year-olds in Kenya received recognition for creating a low-cost vehicle exhaust system that captures emissions using filters made from natural ingredients. Winners for four additional regions are yet to be announced, and a public vote will subsequently determine the overall winner.
The conflict in Gaza was triggered by an attack in October 2023, led by Hamas, which resulted in approximately 1,200 fatalities and 251 individuals being taken hostage. During Israel’s subsequent military campaign in Gaza, more than 72,700 people have been reported killed, including 856 since a ceasefire came into force in October 2025, according to the health ministry in the territory. This ceasefire, part of a plan by US President Donald Trump to end the conflict, also included pledges for the territory’s reconstruction “for the benefit of the people of Gaza.” However, humanitarian agencies have indicated that such large-scale reconstruction efforts have not yet commenced.
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