By Wendy Whiting Blome | Secretary/Treasurer AFSCC
Trauma and Learning Challenges Can Go Together
Now is the time to join the American Friends of the Spafford Children’s Center in supporting the work of the Spafford Children’s Center in Jerusalem and the West Bank. Vulnerable children like Nadim need your help. Please contribute to AFSCC through GlobalGiving at https://goto.gg/31839. Every dollar helps bring hope and opportunity to children like Nadim.
Nadim struggled to learn Arabic. Everything seemed beyond him — he was slow to read, he didn’t pronounce words correctly, he missed the meaning of sentences and stories. His parents were very worried not only about his lessons, but also how upset Nadim was when he came home from school. They didn’t understand why he had so few friends and came up with reasons to avoid going to school. When they brought him to the Spafford Children’s Center (SCC) they immediately felt hope. Here were caring professionals who had the knowledge and skills to help their son and to teach them how to support him.
The initial assessment conducted at SCC showed that the almost 9-year-old functioned at a 2nd grade level. He had difficulty discerning Arabic letters, was slow in reading and understanding phrases, and felt very stressed when he read aloud. Nadim was trying so hard but it was all frustrating and made him feel bad about himself. He also told the SCC counselor that he was often afraid on the way to and from school as the heavily armed soldiers sometimes searched him and his classmates. He didn’t want to burden his parents with his fears as he often heard them talking about how difficult it was to find jobs and pay the rent. Further, the assessment revealed that Nadim had difficulties writing; he held the pencil so tightly that his hands hurt and he could only write a line or two before he gave up.
The SCC team recommended registering Nadim in Arabic courses for his language development as well as counseling and occupational therapy to relieve his tension and stress and improve his fine motor skills. Drama and art activities were added to let Nadim express his joys and concerns and increase his muscle control and reduce his stress.
Nadim came to SCC for over a year. Progress was slow at first but as the counselor and therapist dealt with the trauma issues his ability to learn increased. His mother also received counseling and was helped to talk directly with her children about the challenges the family faces. Additionally, she worked with the SCC teachers to make educational toys and learned how to work with Nadim and her other children at home to advance their cognitive and emotional development.
Now Nadim is starting the 5th grade and he is on track with the other students. He has made friends, some at SCC and some in school. After the intensive SCC courses in Arabic he is now able to read and answer questions; he actually likes reading aloud and volunteers in class. His motor coordination has improved and he enjoys games and sports. He is proud that his artwork is hung with pride in his home and at SCC. His mother has done her best to help him and is very happy with his continuous progress, especially considering that he is the eldest son.
The Spafford Children’s Center strives to offer children and their families a safe place to reach their full potential through development of their individual strengths and gifts in the context of an unpredictable political environment. SCC is committed to bringing healing and hope to children and families by offering programs and services that increase health in mind, body, and spirit.
Please remember Nadim by contributing to AFSCC through GlobalGiving at https://goto.gg/31839 .
Thank you.
By Wendy Whiting Blome | Project Leader
By Wendy Whiting Blome | Project Leader
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