Help Traumatized Palestinian Children

The Spafford Children’s Center is busy. While Covid restrictions are still in place, all of the staff and many of the mothers have been vaccinated. The children are back in their regular schools after having missed more than a year of instruction. The Palestinian kids who come to SCC are getting caught up through individualized instruction in English, Arabic, and math. In just an 11-week course the children make amazing progress. Comparing the pre and post tests the teachers find at least one grade level of improvement and often more.

All of the SCC services recognize the impact of trauma on the ability of children to learn and reach their potential. Palestinian children have seen or experienced trauma in their communities. Some children handle trauma by acting out; some hold their feelings in. Whatever their response the SCC teachers, psychologist, and social worker know that children need opportunities to express their emotions in safe ways. At SCC, in recent weeks, there was an outing for youth that featured games and cooking their own feast outdoors. A few weeks ago, the SCC children learned about Easter and drew colorful eggs. Recently, another activity gave the creative SCC children the materials they needed to craft Ramadan lanterns that are symbolic of hope.

Please give to the American Friends of the Spafford Children’s Center and support the services that help Palestinian children and youth learn and thrive. Please contribute through https://goto.gg/31839.

The Spafford Children’s Center is busy now—children are running through the halls, wearing their masks, to classes in Arabic, English, and math. In addition, there are new activities for mothers and children with the psychodrama specialist and instruction in painting from a local artist. Down the hall is a workshop for mothers to learn about positive parenting techniques, human growth and development milestones for children, and ways to deal with challenging behavior. There are more needs SCC wants to be able to meet and with help from supporters like you SCC will continue to lead in trauma-informed educational and therapeutic services for Palestinian children and the parents.

Look behind the masks to see the smiles, the joy, and the fun children and mothers find at the SCC. Since 1925 the Spafford Children’s Center has evolved to meet the needs of Palestinian families and children. With your help SCC will continue to be a place of hope and healing for children and their parents.