AUTUMN 2007

Dear Friends,

According to original plans, we were supposed to move in our new building by September 2007, the beginning of the scholastic year, but we are far from it.  Having completely fulfilled the payment of our share in the project, we now have on the ground the basement and the skeleton of first floor, with two more floors to be added by the UNDP. Problems with the contractor occurred throughout the process, and since the UNDP on their part have not signed a binding contract with him, they decided it would be best to re-tender the documents!!! And you all know what that means…yes, more delay! To date, we have recalculated the bill of quantities and subtracted the work that was already executed and the documents were handed in to the UNDP. We await their approval and anticipate signing a legally binding agreement with the UNDP first and then with the new contractor. 

 

Invitation to Glasgow

We received an invitation to attend a fund raising event to be held in Glasgow for the benefit of Al-Shurooq School. The event is organized by Clarkston Churches Together. Doris is going to be there from the18^th -22^nd of January 2008. Whilst there, she is going to talk to as many churches and schools as possible, to raise awareness towards the work of Al-Shurooq School with blind children in Bethlehem.

It would be wonderful to see as many of you dear friends as possible. For more details please contact us or Rev. Jeanne Roddick at the following address:

Rev. Jeanne Roddick
Minister
Greenbank Parish Church
Greenbank Manse, 38 Eaglesham Road
Clarkston, Glasgow G76 7DJ
Scotland
Email: jeanne.roddick@ntlworld.com

 

Summer at Al-Shurooq School

The summer months elapsed much too swiftly.  The school year terminated on June the 19th, and next day we set off for Tabgha near Tiberias with seventeen children and seven staff members for our yearly summer camp. We all had a marvelous time there, until the Sunday prior to our last day. On that particular evening, a fire broke out in one of the tents, which spread to the next one.  The tents with all their contents of mattresses, sheets, blankets, and the belongings of the staff and children were swallowed up by the fire.  The priests and volunteers on campus came for our rescue.  We thank God that no one was hurt from the children or the staff.  As a matter-of-fact, it was an extremely hot day, so they were all in the pool enjoying the coolness of the fresh spring water. We were rather upset that this should happen, when everything seemed to be going so well; the children were very good, and the staff worked really hard to make it pleasant.  Apparently, one of our children was playing with a lighter she had found lying around, being the curious person she is, she gave it the first spark and set the tent in flame. We returned safely home on the 26th, ready to continue with the summer camp held in our school premises.

In addition to current Al-Shurooq children, six former students joined the camp for refresher courses mainly in English and computer training. Twenty-two children participated and they returned home on July the 20^th, with the exception (as usual!!) of the two children from Gaza, Lara and her brother Ahmad "Joujou".  Their cousin, Ahmad, went back to Gaza a week after our return from Tiberias; he was so anxious to get home; whereas the parents of the two other children did not wish them to return, for fear that they will not be able to return to school, given the political situation in Gaza. Unfortunately, they were the only children remaining at school, which meant emergency plans to keep them busy and well entertained. Our social worker took Lara to her home for a few days, while Joujou spent a few days at the home of one of our children.  The remaining few days, we managed to send them to a summer camp with sighted children. It was not until August 8th, when the parents were given guarantees that the International Red Cross would bring them back to Beit Jala, that it was arranged for them to go home for approximately three weeks. We are pleased they were able to spend some time with their family.

The situation in Gaza is atrocious. Many of the people there are dying to get out.  It has become like an enormous prison. We just hope and pray that this terrible situation will not last much longer.  We cannot see a way out of this whole mess.

 

The Children's Return

The children happily returned on August the 31^st, ready to recommence school on September 1st. Four children left us this year; Fida (12) was mainstreamed to be with her sister Hannah who left us a year earlier. Ahmad (9) decided to go to a blind school in Gaza to be with his parents. Abdul Rahman (6) and his family moved to Jordan and Razan (7) had to leave as her family moved to Ramallah.

Yet instead we have admitted five new children, Shaima Ziadeh (6) visually impaired, comes from a village near Bethlehem called Wad Rahhale. She has an uncle who is also visually impaired and has been through Al-Shurooq School approximately eighteen years ago. George Thalgie (6) comes from Bethlehem and he is totally blind. Mohammad Abu Mayyala (5) joined his sister Haneen, who has been in the school for the last three years. She looks after him extremely well. They are both visually impaired. Mohammad Essa (4) comes from a village near Bethlehem called Al-Khader (St. George's). He is the youngest in our school and had sadly lost his vision and his ability to walk as a result of a car accident when he was eighteen months old

 As'ad Jaber (6) comes from the old city of Hebron. The family lives  under the most appalling conditions, they are constantly being harassed by Jewish settlers. As'ad has a visual impairment caused by bilateral cataract. He was fitted with lenses when he was barely three months old. He appears to be happy and has settled in reasonably well. We are particularly sorry to have lost both Razan and Abdul-Rahman, as they were amongst the brightest children in the school.

Two new teachers joined the school to substitute for the two teachers who left us to do further studies.

 

Mohammad Abu Mayyala

Mohammad Essa

 

Shaima Ziadeh

As’ad Jaber

 

George Thalgie

 

 

Library and Braille Book Production

During the last three months, work in our Braille production unit has slowed down considerably, mainly in our Jerusalem branch.  The two employees  there come from Ramallah, their permits to get into Jerusalem expired, so for at least the last couple of months, they have not been able to come to work. We were obliged to employ a lady from East Jerusalem, on a part time basis.  We honestly don't know what to do with our two employees who have been with us for over thirty years.

As regards the Braille unit in Beit Jala, books are still being prepared on the computer.  We feel that it would be more appropriate to wait until we move into our new premises to purchase a new printer.

To end this letter, we would like to express our thanks and profound gratitude to all of you who have supported us morally and financially. Your prayers for our guidance as to how to serve these children best is greatly appreciated.

 

 

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