Gazan sisters win global award for turning war rubble into building blocks

Gaza: Despite living in a tent after their home was bombed, two teenage sisters from Gaza have won an international award for an innovation that could help Palestinians rebuild their communities.

Tala Mousa, 17, and her sister Farah, 15, developed a technique to transform rubble from damaged buildings into reusable, non-load-bearing blocks for use in garden beds, pavements, and partitions. The process involves crushing and sieving debris, mixing it with binders such as clay, ash, and glass powder, then moulding and drying it into blocks.

This week the sisters were named Middle East Winners in the Earth Prize 2026, a global environmental competition and incubator for teens. The pair now hope to teach the technique to others in war-torn Gaza.

“The view from our tent window is what keeps us always motivated,” said Tala. “The large amount of rubble and the lack of accessible rebuilding solutions inspire us to work on this project, and turn what was once destruction into a starting point for hope.”