Sponsor's update from Bethlehem, Palestinian Territories

Child sponsorship update from the SOS Children's Village Bethlehem, Palestinian Territories from December 2008.

Dear Sponsor and Friend

A full year has passed and it is great pleasure to great you again as a valuable member of our world-wide family, whose kind support helps us to provide a better environment to you sponsored child and facility.
As a result of the dramatic occurrences in the Palestinian Territories over the past eight years (Occupation, civil strife, and divided governmental bodies) the socio-economic situation has continued to deteriorate. Despite the relative decrease in violence in some areas the local economy has continued to suffer. This paired with the global increase in the price of basic commodities has increased dramatically the number of Palestinian families living below the poverty line. As a result more children have been abandoned and higher numbers of children are at risk of losing parental care and a stable family environment.

SOS Bethlehem has expanded 3 houses, two family houses and the third for the mother assistant “Aunts”. A total of 91 children are now in the SOS village, 11 new admitted children were brought to our village based on the new admission criteria, on the other hand, 6 of our children joined back their biological family, and two of them will be cared as beneficiaries from Family Strengthening Program (FSP).

Our four Youth Houses have now 43 youth, and 9 in the Semi - Independent Houses. SOS Bethlehem also has a Nursery School (4 classes, a total of 78 children), SOS School, grades 1-9 (a total of 417 students) with yearly plans to expand until grade 12.

This Child Protection Policy (CPP) working paper was formed regarding a series of measures that we have taken here at the SOS Children’s Village Bethlehem (SOS Bethlehem) to inform our community about our child protection policy. The CPP was sent to all of our different projects, to our staff members, as well as to our partner organizations in this area. After allowing our staff time to reflect on the working paper we held a meeting to discuss ways in which we could implement an action plan to prevent child abuse. We decided to engage with professional organisations that focus on children’s rights to help us further these objectives. These partners include Defense for Children International (DCI) and the Palestinian Independent Commission for human Rights (PICHR).

Working with children at Bethlehem

All new SOS employees already receive standard background checks with the local police as well as previous employer recommendations. This is part of SOS CPP and SOS Bethlehem already implements such practices. SOS Bethlehem established a Child Protection team that will investigate and follow up claims of child abuse in any programs or projects related to SOS in the West Bank. A training course on UN convention on the rights of Child held by DCI for the mothers and aunts in Bethlehem CV. Training course on the rights of Child held by early childhood resource centre for the SOS children’s and youth. Workshop held by DCI on the mechanisms of child protection, and vision in the protection of child abuse.

Presented SOS CPP to the Palestinian Network for Children’s Rights (an association of 64 Palestinian NGOs concerned with children and their rights).

From the beginning of 2008, we have approached the Ministry Of Social Welfare to become the legal guardian of the SOS children; as a result legally signed document was released from their side.

Four innocent children were brought from their hard situation and miserable environment, they don’t even have a good treatment and care, food wasn’t healthy that normal child needs to improve his body and keeps in a good condition even shelter was hard to find. And one of the most important things for any human at this planet is education it’s the key of knowledge that human needs to complete his life in the right way they don’t have it…. To a valid environment where love, empathy and ambition surround them.

When the first day came and they were brought by their grandfather their eyes were full of fear and sadness, it was something strange and new mysterious life for them. After a long time working with them by studying the case and doing for each of them an individual plan which is including health, education, social aspects and IQ test, we assigned each child in a special school for a special education. we worked with one of them on spelling problem and now she is getting better more than 60% , also we worked to put them in a school for a special education and she improved herself so next semester she will be moving to SOS school. These children well integrated at SOS family so now they know what is table manners, how to wear, how to keep clean, how to act with people ….and thanks God they are living a charming life which leads them to be successful.

SOS Bethlehem is very proud to host many esteemed guests throughout the year. SOS Bethlehem held the open day supported by the Palestinian National Insurance Company, in addition to the SOS Sport Week which was held at the village itself, while lost of children activities took place during summer by various local and international organisations.

Educating children for the future

SOS Youth facilities
We have now 4 Y.H. (2 for girls and 2 for boys), with total of 44 youth. Our Semi Independent Youth Houses have 2 youth (1 for girls and 1 for boys) with total of 11 youth.
Currently we have 2 Semi Independent Houses for 11 youth (5male and 6 female).All of our youth in Semi - Independent Houses are studying in either universities or vocational colleges and institutes.

Our Youth regularly assist the SOS mother with their house work during their free time, sometimes they take summer courses otherwise they participate in all SOS village activities such as SOS Sport Week that lasted for a full week in cooperation with the Ministry of Youth and Sport. SOS Open Day that also was held last summer lots of activities were prepared.

During summer vacation all our youth should participate in a voluntary work to complete 40 hours for community service and at the end of this participation, the Youth Leaders prepare their evaluation process.

SOS Nursery School
The academic year started with 78 with an increase of student number then last academic year, since we have now four classes. Our nursery school had various activities such as collecting olives from olive trees since it is a famous tree in Palestine and now it is the season of collecting olives, afterwards they squeeze olives or make pickles.

SOS School
The SOS School was expanded this year to include the ninth grade with a total of 417 students at the beginning of academic year. The SOS School contains classrooms, a library, a since lab, a French language study - room, a computer lab, a conference room, and administrative offices. This year, the SOS school, was chosen to be one of twenty schools from the West bank to participate in a 4 year Model School Network Program supported by AMIDEAST. The program focuses on using creative teaching techniques in Science, English and Math with a special focus on the use of teaching in the classrooms. In addition to the continues of Music Therapy that began last summer, which will be as a continues program for this year also.

Supporting children and communities at Bethlehem

SOS Psycho-Social Relief Centre
Each center is staffed with a Social Worker and Psychologist and Psychiatrist who is meant to visit each centre once a week. The centres provide social and psychological services to children and their caregivers. We have 6 Psycho - Social Relief Centres throughout the West Bank, and one Mobile Center who served more than 45,000 cases.

The activities of the fixed points and the mobile center include: workshops and seminars for women, students at schools, counseling sessions for women and children. Child and youth development issues are the main topic in addition to personal development such as material counseling, dealing with depression, awareness of Child Protection Policy.

Family Strengthening Program (FSP) West Bank and Gaza Strip
Our program has expanded to cover 182 families in the West Bank with total of 800 children, and in Gaza Strip 900 child. SOS Bethlehem started FSP in the West Bank in 2005 and has continued to expand every year offer its services to more cases and children. FSP this year expanded to work in Bethlehem and Hebron.

Dear sponsor and friend, allow us again to thank you for being with us. We assure you that your help means a lot to us both morally and materially. We are grateful that you enable us to continue our services and give a home to those children who are less lucky. In the name of all our children, mothers and co-workers, we extend to you hearty greetings of Christmas and good wishes for the New Year.

Mohammad Shalaldeh, National Director