An Escape Room in Bethlehem
Introduction
Hi, I’m Claire Anastas, and I live with my family in Bethlehem. Life under military occupation is hard. Our home is surrounded on three sides by the Wall. But despite this, our house has become a symbol of resilience. It’s just a few kilometers from the Church of the Nativity, a place visited by millions of pilgrims. Now, we want to transform our home into something truly meaningful: an escape room. We’ve called it “Mary’s Diary”. But we need your help to bring it to life.
Why an escape room?
Mary’s Diary will be a unique way to share our story of life under occupation. Through puzzles and real-life scenarios based on events from the Second Intifada, visitors will experience what our family endured – the fear, the struggle, but also the hope, strength, faith and creativity that helped us survive. It’s not just about solving puzzles; it’s about understanding the impact of occupation and oppression.
We want visitors—whether local youths, students, or international travelers—to feel what we have felt and understand the realities of Palestinian life. It will be an emotional and educational journey, showing the importance of justice, peace, and nonviolence in a world that often feels broken, especially now with the wars on Gaza and Lebanon.
Who is organising the crowdfunding campaign?
The organizer of this campaign is Dr Toine van Teeffelen, a Dutch anthropologist living in the Bethlehem area, who will work with Claire Anastas and her family to realize the escape room.
A symbol of peace and nonviolence
Our escape room is more than just a game; it’s a message. Surrounded by the Wall, our home stands as a symbol of the barriers that imprison Palestinians. The story of Mary’s Diary is one of nonviolent resistance—showing how ordinary people like us can cope with extraordinary challenges through faith, hope, and creativity.
How can you help?
We need your support to make this dream come true. We’re working with local and international students to make this vision a reality. Funds will be used to design and furnish the rooms, develop immersive puzzles, recreate the atmosphere of the Second Intifada, and promote the escape room to local and international visitors. With your contribution, we can share our story with the world and create a lasting symbol of peace and justice right here in Bethlehem.
Join us
Please donate to our campaign and help us spread the word by sharing it with your friends and family. Together, we can turn Mary’s Diary into a powerful experience that inspires empathy, nonviolence, and hope from Bethlehem to the world.
The provisional budget for developing the Escape Room is as follows:
• Architect: $5,000
• Puzzle designer: $2,000
• Technology and props: $5,000
• Second-hand furniture and objects: $2,000
• Sound and lighting equipment: $3,000
• Reconstruction: $3,000
• Total: $20,000
Thank you for your support!