So many young people were senselessly killed or injured
during the conflict in Gaza last year. We have shared in a small way in the
care of some of the injured children who found themselves being treated at the
Bethlehem Arab Society Rehabilitation Hospital. Following ten months of
intensive treatment, one of these children, a ten year old boy from Gaza,
returns home today. He goes back to the place where his younger brother was
killed beside him and a further twenty three of his family died. For the time he
has been in the West Bank I have watched him bravely work so hard with all the
medical and ancillary staff to recover what movement in his body that he can.
During all of this time I have never seen him angry or unsmiling until today
when I saw a flicker of pain in his face as he said goodbye to those who had
dedicated themselves to him and his recovery. As he and his uncle were driven
off to the checkpoint before travelling home I heard military jets flying high
above us and with a sharp pain in my stomach I just wondered what it’s all
about, that man can so easily inflict so much pain on children. No cause, no
religion can be an excuse for inflicting such pain.
ACIC, a small charity working in the Holy Land seeking to care for the education, health and welfare of children in crisis and to help them achieve their full potential. Registered Charity No.1159189
Tuesday, 26 May 2015
Monday, 18 May 2015
A great SOS birthday
We were invited today to a wonderful birthday party for the
daughter of one of the old students from the SOS Village in Bethlehem. She and
her husband provided a great party for friends, families and some of the
present youngsters from the village. A really great event.
Sunday, 17 May 2015
Graduation Day
Graduation day today for
some Hope School, Beit Jala students. I share in the enormous pride of parents
and teachers for these young men and women who will now go on to university,
other courses or jobs. A fantastic day for students, potential students, parents,
teachers and friends all of whom came to support the graduates. Mabrook!!
Monday, 11 May 2015
A privilege
Alongside
the children we financially sponsor there are many others that we try to help.
The monitoring of welfare and listening is so important for these very
vulnerable children. Boarding sections for girls and for boys, home, school and
hospital visits take much of our time. When we are actively available, ‘loitering
with intent’ it isn’t too long before a youngster will come along and want to
talk about football or life or what is troubling them. We feel it is very
important to be available to listen without judging (except when it comes to
football). Helping out with teaching in some of the schools (English and
French) also takes much of our time. Today, I went to Hope School to visit the
boarding section. Whilst watching television with a member of staff and the
children, a small boy sat next to me and told me he
was feeling unwell. We talked for a while and then he took my hand, put his
head on my shoulder and fell asleep. To be trusted, to be available for young
people who invariably have few to care for them is an unbelievable privilege.
A great day out
A final day out to the Dead Sea, Mar Saba and Jericho before this
incredibly brave youngster returns home to Gaza after nine months of treatment
in The Arab Society Rehabilitation Hospital in Bethlehem. An exceptional
youngster who has received such exceptional care from all the hospital staff
and his Uncle who has been by his side for every minute that he has been here.
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