Two teenage sisters from Gaza have been recognized with a prestigious environmental award for their innovative approach to turning widespread destruction into a resource. Farah, 15, and Tala Mousa, 17, were named the Middle East regional winners of the youth-focused Earth Prize for their project, which transforms war-generated rubble into reusable construction bricks.

The sisters, who have endured multiple displacements and currently live in a tent after their home was destroyed, were driven by the devastation surrounding them. “After our entire city turned into rubble, everything around us pushed us to think about a solution,” Tala explained. Their invention involves crushing and sieving debris, then mixing it with materials like clay, ash, and glass powder to create low-cost, lightweight blocks. These bricks are designed for non-load-bearing applications such as pavements, partitions, and garden beds, and were even tested by helping a neighbor secure their tent during inclement weather.

With their $12,500 prize, Farah and Tala plan to establish workshops aimed at empowering their community. They intend to train approximately 100 young people in the brick-making process, with a goal of producing at least 200 bricks. This initiative seeks to enable residents to participate directly in reconstruction efforts, rather than solely relying on external aid. The sisters’ philosophy is to see the rubble not as a symbol of loss, but as the beginning of something new, transforming a negative reality into a positive opportunity for rebuilding.

Their work comes at a critical time for Gaza, where an estimated 1.9 million people—nearly 90% of the population—have been displaced since the conflict began in 2023. The United Nations estimates that by early 2025, the territory sustained approximately $70 billion in damage, leaving millions of tonnes of rubble across its streets. The Mousa sisters’ project offers a sustainable and community-driven solution to a monumental challenge.