Lema Marwan: Art Born from the Ruins

An Introduction by Judith Thompson, senior advisor, Global Citizens Circle
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​I have been to Gaza twice.
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​My first visit was in 1991, following a conference at Hebrew University, “Children in War,” which examined the psychological impact of war and communal violence on children. At the time, I had already spent more than a decade working with young people from conflict zones through Children of War, the organization I co-founded in 1984 and was joined by my work partner Arn Chorn-Pond, a survivor of the Cambodian genocide who was the keynote speaker.

After the conference, I traveled with my colleague Dr. John Mack—founder of Harvard’s Center for Psychology and Social Change where I was a board member—to refugee camps in the West Bank and then to Gaza, where we met Dr. Eyad El-Saraj, founder of the Gaza Community Mental Health Programme. A psychiatrist of extraordinary courage, Eyad endured repeated detention and intimidation by both Israeli and Palestinian authorities for his outspoken opposition to torture and abuse.  His work remains a lasting model of ethical, trauma-informed mental health practice rooted in truth and compassion.

My second visit, in 2008, was meant as a return—to Eyad to discuss a dialogue project I had been asked to facilitate between Palestinian and Israeli mental health workers. Instead, it coincided with the opening moments of what would later be called Operation Cast Lead, a 3-week war that resulted in 1,400 Palestinian and 13 Israeli deaths After crossing through the Erez checkpoint between Israel and Gaza on foot and hearing a missile pass overhead, I entered Gaza City in a waiting van. As we drove deeper into the city, the streets began to fill and the first casualties appeared—people chanting and carrying a body above their heads. We were forced to turn back. I walked alone across the barren no-man’s land and separating Gaza from Israel. I have never been able to return.
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To see Gaza now, as you can in this video—its once-vibrant society, reduced to rubble—is almost beyond belief.  And yet, when a dear friend from Ramallah recently sent me this article about Lema Marwan, it felt like a shaft of light breaking through the devastation. Through her work and our correspondence, Lema embodies what “rising from the ashes” truly means—not as metaphor, but as disciplined, courageous stance, spurred on by a passionate vision. I am honored to welcome her into the Global Citizens Circle community and invite others to support her aspirations with the relationships and opportunities that allow such brilliance to endure. In a fractured world, stories remain among our most powerful bridges. May this one move you—not only to witness, but to respond. Below is her story, in her own words.

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By Lema Marwan

​In the narrow alleys of Gaza, a city echoing with the weight of war and the silence of siege, emerged to tell a story the world has never seen. My narrative isn’t written in ink alone; it is painted with light, born from ashes, and sculpted at the intersection of my humanity, my art, and cutting-edge technology.

‏My life has been a series of survival since the day I was born in 2003. I grew up in the shadows of constant wars, surrounded by a reality that no human should ever have to adapt to. I never knew material luxury, but I was raised with 'Spiritual Luxury' and dignity—a gift from my mother, my first anchor, after I lost my father when I was only thirteen. However, he remains the mountain that never bowed, granting me strength even in his absence. Before he passed, he planted the seeds of noble morals within me. I still remember how he would call my name before going to sleep to teach me Quranic verses, encouraging me to forgive others and to respond to unkindness with the grace and patience taught in our faith. It is his legacy that keeps me standing tall today. That loss did not break me; it ignited a fire within me to chase ambitions that others find impossible.

Deprivation was the foundation of my story, but it also became the source of my strength. My ultimate ambition is to complete my education and pursue a master’s degree in Artificial Intelligence (AI), a field I am passionate about. I only dream of having the basic rights and necessities of life to continue my journey.

‏My journey with deep expression began in 2021. I remember feeling a heavy need to cry, but not with tears—it was as if my heart wanted to weep. So, I wrote about Gaza. That was the moment I discovered that writing is my soul's voice.

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Now, I am living through this devastating war. I have seen the world turn completely black. I have endured displacement and hunger. I can never forget the night we fled under white phosphorus, shells, and tanks. We ran in the dark, our feet racing against time, searching for a piece of ground to hold our tent—a tent to cover the disappointment of our dreams. I still hear the sound of dogs howling in the night while I sat in the car, waiting for them to find any land where we could exist.

‏Currently, I am in Khan Yunis, staying in a partially damaged building near the Nasser Medical Complex. It is no longer a "home" in the true sense, but rather a temporary shelter where we try to survive. Two apartments in the building were completely destroyed, and the rest sustained significant damage. Living so close to the hospital means we are constantly in the heart of the crisis, struggling every day to find a sense of safety or even a quiet moment to focus.

‏It wounded my pride—I, who always lived in grace—to find myself standing in public streets just to catch an internet signal to see the world. During my displacement, our solar energy was stolen, leaving us in total darkness. While many of my colleagues left Gaza through scholarships, I lived through a difficult conflict as I watched my dreams fade in a land that hasn't seen peace for a single day. But I could not be selfish and leave my family while they faced death, destruction, and hunger thousands of times a day. I stayed because I know that my mother’s happiness is worth giving up everything else in this world.

‏All these scenes echo inside me. I haven't forgotten, and I don't believe I will ever be able to move past them. My journey with writing and AI is my only way to survive these memories. Simply sitting with my laptop to practice design is a luxury I fight for. This digital world is my only window to a world I have never seen with my own eyes.

‏The Deep Shift: When Art Meets AI
‏My journey began as a student of Management Information Systems, but I found my true pulse in the rhythm of colors and pixels. Starting as a graphic and UI/UX designer, I soon realized that images are more than just tools—they are windows into the soul and a language for the unspeakable pain of my city.

‏The rise of AI provided me with a new vocabulary to redefine the Gazan scene, turning raw emotions into immersive visual realities. As an AI Visual Storyteller, I harness tools like Midjourney, Runway, ElevenLabs, Grok, and Veo to create works that mirror the spirit of Gaza: resilient, hauntingly beautiful, and profoundly honest. This wasn’t just experimentation; it was a deep-seated need to find a new voice in a world drowning in noise.

‏"Blood Writings": A Whisper in a Storm
‏A defining moment in my journey was the release of my AI-generated short film, "Blood Writings." It was more than a film; it was a personal scream. I carried this vision to the 1Billion Summit 2025, seeking a bridge to the world. However, the stars did not align, and the opportunity remained out of reach. Yet, I realized that my path was never about "luck," but about the relentless will to turn rubble into beauty, even when the wind blows against me.

‏A Global Embrace: Finding the Soul's Companion
‏After a journey of independent struggle, a simple social media interaction led me to Judith Thompson. When I met Judith, it was as if I had found a companion and a kindred soul who helped heal my spirit from its pains. Her messages were always as light as a breeze, bringing immediate happiness to my soul.

‏My joy became complete when I got to know her and her family during Christmas, and when I met the members of the Global Citizens Circle (GCC). Being part of this community, alongside voices like Phoebe de Larrabeiti, Theo Spanos Dunfey, and many others, was the true meaning of a soul finding joy in the heart of conflict. Today, I stand proud as a selected Emerging Leader and a contributor to the “AI for Good” program—a place where my light was finally seen.

‏The Journey is Just Beginning
‏I am a visual architect of hope. I operate independently, reviving the cause of my people through my art, and building my brand without leaning on any institution. My message is clear: Gaza is not just news of war; it is faces, dreams, and hands that craft light every single day.

‏For me, the digital canvas is only the beginning. I believe that in a world separated by borders, stories are the only bridges that remain. My dream is to take this 'language of light' to global stages, turning every pixel into a conversation and every frame into a call for human connection. I don't just want the world to see Gaza through my AI art; I want the world to hear the heartbeat behind the technology—a voice that refuses to be silenced.

I am happy to share my latest AI creation here:  The Resilience Algorithm
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Explore My Work:
‏• Professional Portfolio: 
‏• Latest AI Film (Blood of Writing )
‏• Connect with me LinkedIn ​

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Lema Marwan is a 23-year-old Palestinian visual storyteller, UI/UX and graphic designer, and writer from Khan Younis, Gaza. She is a graduating student of Management Information Systems, combining structured thinking with visual narrative and human-centered design.

Marwan works at the intersection of design, storytelling, and digital creativity, using visual language to document memory, identity, and lived experience. She explores artificial intelligence as a creative and expressive tool—not as an industry role—to expand the emotional reach of her visual stories.
She was selected as a success story by Leaders International through the DigiWork training program, recognizing her creative journey and digital skills. Alongside her artistic practice, Marwan is a photographer and community volunteer, actively involved in children’s entertainment and psychosocial relief activities through art and visual expression. She is the author of "Writings of Blood" and a contributor to global conversations on creativity, dignity, and human-centered storytelling.
 
Judith Thompson, Ph.D., has a 40-year history with Global Citizens Circle and currently serves as a senior global advisor. A scholar-practitioner, she has devoted her career to compassion-based approaches to healing divisions and historic trauma in communities affected by conflict. She co-founded and directed Children of War, Inc., an internationally recognized initiative engaging youth from more than 42 war zones, which received numerous honors, including the Reebok Human Rights Award and a Peace Fellowship at Harvard’s Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study. Her work has included convening global learning communities of peacebuilders and supporting dialogue, reconciliation, and trauma-informed practice in divided societies worldwide. 

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Please note: We invite members of the greater Global Citizens Circle community to contribute to GCC Voices. The views and opinions expressed in each blog post are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Global Citizens Circle. ​​​​​​​

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My message is clear: Gaza is not just news of war; it is faces, dreams, and hands that craft light every single day.     - Lema Marwan