Dear friends

SUMNMER 2003

Dear friends,
With great pleasure and deep appreciation, both Doris and myself would like to express our sincere and profound gratitude to all the friends who overwhelmed us with their kind hospitality, generosity and affection during our long stay in Scotland and England.

Attending the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland and delivering a speech was an experience in itself. Getting invited to the Palace of Holyrood House for dinner with the Lord High Commissioner David Steel, going to the Moderator's house for lunch and attending the beautiful Garden Party at the Palace of Holyrood House were just as interesting.

It was particularly consoling and uplifting to know many people are aware of the Palestinian sufferings and are genuinely sympathetic and supportive of our struggle for peace and justice.

We did indeed have the most enjoyable and memorable four weeks.

However, at the end of it all, I was glad to get back, particularly as I had missed the children tremendously; and Doris had been a long time away from her husband and children. May I therefore extend my apologies to all the friends whom we have been unable to visit since we had an extremely tight schedule, trying to fit in as much as possible.

Al-Shurooq School
Just a few days after our homecoming, it was time for the celebration of the end of our school year. We arrived on the 12^th of June and had to get everything ready for the 18^th, the last day of term. The teachers had prepared the children for a rich programme of songs and poems. We had a good attendance of children's parents, friends and both heads of departments of the Palestinian Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Cultural Affairs. They both joined me in the distribution of certificates and prizes to the children who had performed quite well. The children then went home after the party together with their parents.

The girls performing a Palestinian folk dance at the end of school year party

Palestinian Child's Day
To celebrate Palestinian Child's Day on April 5^th, our children joined other groups of sighted children from different local schools in a festival, arranged by the Ministry of Cultural Affairs at the local theatre in Beit Jala. Our children always find a great delight in performing. They are born stars!

Summer School Camp
Summer Camp is going to be held in collaboration with the Palestinian Ministry of Education. Our children are going to be integrated in a camp held by the ministry at different local schools. Al-Shurooq children will surely have our staff with them to help them move around, as they are not yet fully capable of being totally independent.

This camp should give them a feel of how it is like to be integrated. Good experience for the future.

The Annual Excursion
It has always been the custom to take the children on a school outing at least once a year. But unfortunately for the last three years, we have been unable to take them anywhere. Last April, I asked Clarence Musgrave the Minister of St. Andrew's Church in Jerusalem, if he would be kind enough to try and obtain permits for the staff and myself to take the children to Jericho. Our youngest children have never experienced the sea, sand or pebbles on a beach before. The permits were obtained through the great help of Clarence, and on April the 19th, we set out on our excursion to Jericho. It was a wonderful day for the children. They all had a ride on the cable cars and thoroughly enjoyed a swim in the Dead Sea. Some even dared to ride the camel.

As soon as we arrived home, they starting asking: "When are we going again?”

Rawan and Lubna dared ...

Outreach
Before the children went back home, they insisted we visit them in their homes during the holidays. We promised them that as soon as the roads are cleared of blocks, we would visit them all. The visit by our social worker is inevitable, as she will undertake the task of finding placements for six of our girls, to be mainstreamed in September.

She will also be responsible for the admittance of new cases for the beginning of the new scholar year, starting August the 25^th.

Library and Braille Book Production Unit
Once again, we are having problems with our Braille printer. It has been in use since the year 1995. Most probably, it is now ready for a full maintenance. We are in constant contact with the producer and we sincerely hope that a solution will soon be found. Yet, despite the many hardships, 27 new titles have been added to our collection, 17 copies made and 95 volumes given out on loan.

Helen addressing the General Assembly in Edinburgh

Fundraising
The money for the piano purchase is gradually coming in, we will soon have it in our school. The money required for the land purchase is almost complete. We are only short of eight thousand pounds.

May I once again express my warm and profound gratitude for all the friends who donated so generously towards our project and for all those who made feel us so welcomed in their own homes, we felt at home away from home.

Many thanks and God bless.