No Where 

 An Immersive Journalism VR experience 

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//"No Where" is an immersive journalism project that highlights the situation of children in Gaza since October 7th, 2023. This 15-minute virtual reality experience, representing the interval at which a child dies in Gaza, follows Ahlam, a Palestinian girl, as she navigates through a war-torn landscape to deliver food to her grandmother. The story unfolds through the perspective of Lulu, Ahlam's teddy bear, which the viewer embodies.

The VR experience takes users through various environments that critically represent the places and people affected by the conflict. These include bombed houses, religious landmarks, schools, and the Al-Shifa Hospital. The immersive nature of the project allows viewers to feel present in these inaccessible and remote locations, stimulating their sensory channels to better understand the daily struggles faced by children in Gaza.

"No Where" employs XR concepts to create a strong sense of presence and empathy. The player's embodiment of the teddy bear, always accompanying Ahlam, develops a feeling of attachment to the child. The scale of the environment relative to the child and toy helps convey the overwhelming nature of war from a child's perspective. The experience also incorporates interactive elements, such as writing the viewer's name on Ahlam's arm, to further strengthen the connection between the viewer and the story. This project aims to raise awareness about the marginalized issue of children's suffering in Gaza. By allowing viewers to witness events firsthand through immersive technology, "No Where" seeks to create a lasting impact and encourage empathy. The title reflects the dire situation: there is nowhere to go, nowhere to be safe, nowhere to sleep, and nowhere to simply be a child in this conflict zone.