Help Traumatized Palestinian Children

The Palestinian children and youth the Spafford Children’s Center serves live in a context of political unrest and violence that may trigger trauma reactions and emotional and behavioral disorders. These drawings by children who attended SCC activities shows the frightening scenes that are part of their lives. 

Donations to the American Friends of the Spafford Children’s Center (AFSCC) through GlobalGiving at https://goto.gg/31839go directly to SCC to provide needed services and supports for children and families. AFSCC is an all-volunteer organization; we pay no rent or salaries so your donation goes farther. 

To counter the traumatic effects of the living situation, the Spafford Children’s Center offers a holistic array of services including educational support, play therapy, group counseling, psychodrama, music, art, folk dancing, recreational and other cultural activities, as well as summer camp and outings to local sites.

Last year SCC started a program focusing on Early Childhood Development (ECD) for children aged 0 to 6 years as partner in a national ECD strategy through the Palestinian Authority. In this program the child’s development is assessed according to a defined protocol. Additionally, mothers/parents are taught the vital importance of early stimulation and building close parent-child relationships that will promote the socio-emotional, neuro-motor, and cognitive development of the child. Strong bonds during infancy and pre-school years are critically important to the child’s growth and development of resilience. Several SCC staff members are performing so well in this program that they have been chosen to supervise other trainees in their assessments of the development of children. 

The facts-on-the ground in Jerusalem and the West Bank where the Spafford Children’s Center works are constantly changing. The United States has withdrawn funding from the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) services and schools in East Jerusalem, the West Bank, and Gaza. Additionally, the Jerusalem mayor has said he will close UNRWA schools and clinics in the city. Just to serve the registered children in East Jerusalem would require at least 2,000 more classrooms and teachers; that need has existed for years. The UNRWA cuts have also affected the SCC clinic in Bethany. For years SCC received vaccines from UNRWA; now they are no longer available and the clinic is having to find other sources for these important childhood inoculations. 

Please donate to AFSCC at https://goto.gg/31839to help children and families find hope for their futures.