Assist kids with hearing disabilities in Palestine

Dear Donors,

today – 9th October 2023 – Effetà Institute in Bethlehem is closed. On Saturday morning 7^th October more than 3.000 rockets coming from Gaza Strip had been launched by Hamas and had hit different Israeli cities. The Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced that the country is “at war” and a new conflict between Israel and Hamas has started.

During these days of violence and fear, our thoughts and commitment go to all the children that attend lessons in our local partner Institute in Bethlehem. The school was founded in 1971 and 24 students had the opportunity to start an audio-phonetic recovery program. Since that year, the Institute allowed a lot of children with hearing disabilities to receive education and support, even in less peaceful moments. Through speech therapy children can improve their competences and skills that increase their autonomy, independence and freedom, going beyond prejudices and discriminations. At school students also learn foreign languages and at the end of the year they can correctly speak English and Arabic.

Lessons restarted on the 23^rd of August after the summer break, a new school year has begun and it seems more challenging than expected. The school is a reference point for the whole local community and we are absolutely aware of its importance: a child with deafness could face learning and socialization problems that with the time could become social, psychological and economic difficulties. That’s why the role of the school and of rehabilitation is so fundamental!

Our support to Effetà Institute never stops and also to your help we are strongly committed in promoting children rights. Our wish is that peace may always prevail!

Thank you!