Assist kids with hearing disabilities in Palestine

With this report we want to make the best wishes for the new school year and celebrate the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Ephpheta Institute. The 6th of September of 1971 the first students got in and today it welcomes 180 students each year. The students already started the school year in the second half of August and they are excited to learn about their identity and their history to give a new and hopeful meaning to life in Palestine.

According to the World Health Organization, as of today the number of confirmed cases is 418,328 and the number of deaths is 4,220. According to Our World in Data, the share of people fully vaccinated against Covid-19 in Palestine is 11%, while in Israel is 64%. The United Nations Agency for Human Rights released a statement saying that it’s Israel responsibility to offer equal access to Covid-19 vaccines to Palestinians living in the Strip of Gaza and in the West Bank. It’s clear that Israel is obstructing the vaccination process in the Occupied Territories.

About the conflict between Israel and Palestine, after the Palestinian riots caused by the decision of the Supreme Court of Israel to evict some Palestinian residents of Sheikh Jarrah, the 21st of May Israel and Hamas accepted to end any hostility. The night of the 27th of June came into force an order of eviction for the Israeli settlers, the houses they built might become military bases or a Hebrew school while the Israeli government re-evaluates the property rights of the land.

Meanwhile the project focuses on the promotion of taking consciousness of the hearing disability by the parents and their children and on supporting them to face the economic and social difficulties that daily come. Two services are all about the kids: a kindergarten and an elementary school where students get the support they deserve and where they learn techniques on communication and interaction based on their condition.

Thanks to your donations, Aleimar can continue carrying out lots of activities that support students attending the schools of Crèche, Cremisan, Effetà, the Holy Child Program and the families at the community center. From June till this September Aleimar collected 73 USD$. It’s important to raise awareness about pacific ways to build a better future that aren’t based on conflict but rather on meetings to open communication at all levels.

The lack of progress towards peace and reconciliation continues to create an unsustainable situation in the Palestinian territories. Tensions in Jerusalem have exploded again. In the beginning of May protests have begun because of the possible eviction of 70 Palestinian families in the neighborhood Sheikh Jarrah in East Jerusalem.

Since the 10th of May bombings have started between Israel and Hamas in Gaza Strip. Tensions and violent clashes in particular in East Jerusalem, the Old City and the Mosque Esplanade have led to a deterioration of the overall security framework across the West Bank. Numerous are the clashes in urban centers and near check points. It is the worst escalation of the conflict since 2014.

To this is added the Covid-19 health emergency, with more than 30.000 confirmed cases and 3.437 deaths. The epidemiological situation in the Palestinian territories remains subject to a worsening trend. The state of emergency remains confirmed, with consequent variable restrictions of duration and extension that limit the movements inside the country, the operativity of educational institutions, economic activities and public transports. The Israeli government has ordered the closure of civil airspace, suspending flights in and out of the country, isolating Palestine.

For all these reasons the situation of families and children that we support continues to be really serious because they have to face not just economic problems (many people have lost their job because Bethlehem relies mainly on tourism and small business activities), but also health and safety, finding themselves in the middle of the conflict.

The Bethlehem Ephpheta Institute has reopened in April after two months of lockdown. However, the classes have never stopped because all the teachers have always organized distance lessons and sent homework. Since April the students have returned to school in presence, taking part in all language rehabilitation lessons.

In Bethlehem as well there are demonstrations and clashes are happening along the street where the school is based. Fortunately, during these days all the children are at home for the festivity of Eid Al Fiter, which celebrates the end of Ramadan and we hope that it will bring peace and safety for the Palestinian population!