Tala and Farah Mousa received thousands of messages after they won the Earth Prize. "You gave us hope we had completely lost," people wrote. "You showed us we can be seen." They were sheltering in a tent when those messages came in.
This episode is about what it takes to build something: a real, physical method for turning rubble into building blocks, while living inside the rubble. Arielle speaks to the teenaged sisters from Gaza about the idea that came from a textbook the morning after their home was bombed, the competition that brought their work to the world, and what they want for their community, their generation, and the ones who come after them.
Connect with Build Hope Palestine:
- Follow Build Hope Palestine on Instagram: @build.hope
- The Earth Prize website: theearthprize.org
Further reading:
- The Optimist Daily articles on Earth Prize 2026 regional winners Part I and Part II
- Learn about the Earth Prize 2026 global winner
Transcript link: https://www.optimistdaily.com/?p=1422438
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Theme and all original music by Marvin Lanes