Jerusalem/West Bank/Gaza

Unrest and instability at the Gaza borders are ongoing, and tensions in the region remain constant. In general 2018 was a stable year for the areas where we operate programs. With the generosity of our donors and partners, we’ve been leading activities that encourage stability and reduce vulnerability for children and families in this region. Some young adults graduated from vocational trainings, and about 80 percent of those who took classes through our programs in collaboration with the Ministry of Labor found employment. Staff and sponsored kids ran the Right to Movement marathon in the West Bank, a movement highlighting the lack of travel freedom caused by the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in this area. As a result of three years of work, we ran an event simulating the way government works for adolescents. During the event, over a hundred student “parliaments” were created so kids could learn about a culture of democracy, practice their leadership skills, and have a chance to exercise their rights. This project was established with government partnerships, so when the young adults created initiatives that they thought were important, they presented their recommendations to government workers who listened and took their work seriously. In more activities to lessen vulnerability, we celebrated Child Day on April 5 to commemorate children’s rights and affirm kids’ value in God’s eyes.