Bethlehem: The Al-Shurooq School for the Blind

A student reads a book in braille. Braille is a form
of written language for blind people. Readers use
their fingertips to read patterns of raised dots.
 

Three young students at the Al-Shurooq School for the Blind.
Students live at the school and are not only educated, but
are taught life skills for living in their home communities. 
At the school, boys and girls learn the basic subjects that are 
offered in primary schools in the area. They also learn how 
to take a shower, cook, wash dishes, and other basic life 
skills. At this time each student is given a portable braille     
typewriter, but plans are being made for each student 
to receive an iPad.

I am now back home in St Fergus. It is good to be home, but it is the cold and rainy weather that I could do without. While in Israel I experienced dry and warm weather during the seven days I was there. Now that I am back, I realise that I am back in the Blue Toon of North-East Scotland. I enjoyed Israel, but it is great to back home in St Fergus. 

I still have more to write about my recent trip to Israel. Today I want to share about a project that is supported by McCabe Tours, the tour company that planned our trip to Israel. McCabe supports three projects in the West Bank zone controlled by the Palestinian Authority.  Our tour visited the Al-Shurooq School for the Blind in Bethlehem. The school cares for and educates blind Palestinian children.

It was founded in 1981 by Helen Shehadeh, a Palestinian Christian who has been blind since the age of two. She continues to serve as a long term elder in St Andrews Kirk in Jerusalem. Helen founded the school to enable and equip blind Palestinian people to become productive and self-sufficient in their communities. Thus the emphasis is on education, rehabilitation, and integration into one's community. The school takes in children from two years of age  until their early teens when they return to their home communities for further secondary schooling. When a student leaves the school and returns to his or her home, social workers visit the student to provide support and resources to live as productively as possible. 

Too many of the children come out of dysfunctional family situations. Parents can be ashamed that their child is blind and hide their child from public view. Other children are abused or neglected. Some of children are abandoned by their parents. Teachers and social workers not only work with the blind children, but also with their families. It is quite a challenge to deal with all the issues that come up in a blind child's life and in the lives of his or her family members. 

Most of the children and many of the teachers and staff are Palestinian Muslims. Yet this much needed service survives because of the charitable giving of Christians in Britain,Scandinavia, and the USA. This is one aspect of Christian mission. Among other ministries, Jesus Christ came to heal the sick, give sight to the blind, and restore families. This is where the Church should be, serving the poor, needy, and marginalised. I am grateful that the tour included a visit to the school. May our Lord bless the service of this school and its staff and students. 

Blessings to you and yours,