Personal strategies to promote personal security
The connection between agency and safety emerged through our findings, as perceived security was mentioned as a necessary prerequisite to being able to fully engage with and enjoy their lives. Children were often actively engaged in developing their own strategies to feel secure enough to keep on with their favourite activities and thus act upon the limitations imposed upon them by fear. These included behaviors such as: engagement in leisure activities to express and control their emotions and reduce anxiety; seeking God’s protection to regain a sense of control and safety; and the development of strategies to both manage and get some sort of ‘benefit’ from the constant presence of the occupation.
“I’m scared of them [the settlers], but sometimes I come here because you can find Internet here. We don’t have Internet cable in our village, but we can come here and use theirs, watch videos on our phones and have fun”. (Fasayel, 12, male)
Despite the pervasive serve of insecurity, which was influencing children’s ability to exercise agency, children were deploying different strategies to regain control of their environment and their lives.