Story highlights A Palestinian teacher has been awarded a $1 million prize for her contribution

Hanan Al Hroub uses play and learning to help children overcome the impact of violence

(CNN) An elementary teacher who grew up in a Palestinian refugee camp has won a $1 million prize recognizing the "outstanding contribution" she has made to her profession.

Hanan Al Hroub, from Bethlehem in the West Bank, was awarded the Global Teacher Prize at a ceremony in Dubai Sunday.

Hroub accepted the award "as a win for all teachers in general and Palestinian teachers in particular."

"Believe in your ideas, work on them, convince people of your ideas, challenge the whole world, convince people of your ideas so you can spread them and you will find yourself here," she said.

Play and learning