Dear Friends

WINTER 2001

Dear Friends,
With great sadness and distress, we bade farewell to the year 2000, and had high hopes that the year 2001, would be at least more peaceful. Instead, conditions have worsened tremendously; violence has exceeded all limits. The closure imposed on all towns and villages in the West Bank and Gaza has tightened, the shelling and demolition of houses has increased, the assassinations and killings of innocent people are being witnessed daily, not to mention the endless humiliation and widespread poverty. Life has been made miserable for all of us who live here, in this Holy Land. Our desires for a lasting peace vanish with the dawn of every new day.
As we are about to celebrate Christmas, we so much wish that all of the Christian world would remember the message that came down from Heaven, "Peace on earth and good will to all men". Whether they are strong or weak, poor or rich, Palestinian, Israeli, American or Afghani, we are all the children of one God. May humanity and compassion precede every worldly interest.

Outreach
The closure of Palestinian towns and villages has tightened up even more savagely, the last three months. Our visits to the children's homes and schools have been quite few. However, we try to keep in touch with them all by telephone.

Al-Shurooq Christmas party
This year, things had to be made rather differently. In order, to reduce traveling torture for our children and their families, we decided to extend the children's holiday until December, 30th.
Our Christmas party had to be postponed until January, 5th. The children have all written letters to Santa Claus asking him for wonderful gifts. Of course, they all asked for toys. A large number of them wanted mobile phones, but little four-year-old Shahd asked for an army tank!!
This Christmas they will all receive a toy and a pair of boots, which have been donated to us by a toyshop and a shoe shop in Bethlehem.

Wrapping Children Christmas Gifts

Al-Shurooq School for blind and visually impaired
Indeed, we are extremely grateful to God almighty and to our friends, who have continued to support us during the past year. For without their help, it would have been impossible for us to pursue our essential role of educating and caring for our blind and visually impaired children and adults. The need is growing, two more blind children have been admitted into Al-shurooq School during the last couple of months. Classes were never interrupted, despite the fact that on many occasions, a few of our children who went home for weekends, were unable to return in time due to the dangers, harassment and check points encountered on their journeys back and forth.

New premises
Unfortunately, our move into new premises was cancelled the last minute; as we failed to agree with the landlord, who lives in Ecuador. He put new terms of agreement that were unacceptable to us.

Blind women's committee
We have now almost completed the project that was sponsored by the British Government, "Blind Women as agents of Change". Almost thirty women participated in the project, which was extremely successful.
Mrs. Dar'awi, a lawyer, was able to wrap up the lectures on legal rights, and her husband, Mr. Dar'awi who is still in prison, is completing the research. That should soon be ready for publication. Naturally, all participants will receive copies and about five hundred more will be distributed. Computer training still continues on a smaller scale, which includes a few blind women in addition to the children of the school.

The YMCA Christmas party
This yearly event, which our children look forward to with much pleasure, took place on December 16th. Unfortunately, the date coincided with the first day of Eid Al-Fitir. Naturally, all parents wanted their children home for the occasion. The children had to make a difficult choice, either go home or stay for the party. They all chose to stay.
Once again the director of the YMCA, Mr. Rizik Abusharr, was kind enough to invite over fifty children from our area, particularly those who suffered most by the current situation, to attend the Christmas party held yearly at the YMCA. We are extremely grateful to Mr. Abusharr, who went into all the trouble in order to facilitate permit procedures and make the necessary arrangements for us to enter Jerusalem. The children, who have been deprived of a stable, secure and happy childhood for so long, enjoyed the party tremendously that they wondered whether they would be able to come again next year.
On the second day of the feast, a member of the staff took eight of the children home to Hebron. They were to be met by their parents in the centre of the town. What a struggle it was, when it took over eight hours for the staff member to get them to Hebron and back. Norma-lly, it would take appro-ximately one hour!
Hopefully, they will return to school on December, 30th.

The appointment of a professional
For quite some time, I have been concerned about the continuation of this vital project, should I suddenly collapse. I needed someone with special skills, such as the ability to coordinate and support our needs, the ability to solicit and fund raise, a good command of English and above all, the ability to sympathize with the work. Eventually, 34-year-old, Mrs. Doris Saba, met our requirements; she has been recently appointed as our Public Relations person. Hopefully, she will become the designate director to Al-Shurooq School for the Blind and Visually Impaired in the future. She is a graduate of Imperial College, London, and is a mother of three. I am so delighted she has accepted the post.I am praying hard that we might find an organization willing to fund us to pay her salary, for at least three years.

Participating with other local schools to celebrate the " International Day of the Disabled"

Library and Braille book Production
The production of Braille books continues but visits to the library have been diminished, due to the restricted movement. Nearly every Sunday, we transport a load of Braille books to our East Jerusalem office, in order to facilitate the journey of our blind clients coming from the north. However, we succeeded in producing 33 new titles, making 120 copies, and giving out on loan 280 volumes.
Before closing, and on behalf of the children and staff of Al-Shurooq School, I would like to express my warm and sincere wishes for a Merry Christmas and a blissful New Year 2002.