News & Events
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Join the fun! Celebrate St. Nicholas Day and connect with the spirit of the real St. Nicholas, Bishop in Turkey in the fourth century. He's the patron saint of needy children in the Middle East and inspires us to help needy children there today. Perform the Christmas pageant, sing the hymn, pray and have fun with the tools we've provided at www.afedj.org. All free. Refocus your Christmas spirit and help a child in the Holy Land with your ingathering or individual gift. Our children will get more than a shiny toy. They'll receive an education, healthcare, therapy, a chance at a new life. Help us help them. Make a gift or organize a celebration in your parish, your family, your town, your club. Kids are hoping.....
Gaza Update – February 2010
We received the following report from Suhaila Terazi, Director of Ahli Hospital in Gaza:
"Infrastructure, homes and businesses remain badly damaged, with severely restricted supplies
entering Gaza through official border crossings. Goods that are available are not affordable to
most residents. Families make tough decisions about how and who to feed. Sickness is prevalent
given substandard housing and lack of sanitary water and facilities.
"The staff at Ahli Hospital with your support continues to operate their vital mobile medical
clinic, visiting the poor in their own neighborhoods. The programs for malnourished children and
elderly, and for chronically ill women dramatically improves the quality of life for many. The new
mental health outreach program has been expanded, providing for post and ongoing traumatic
stress care for families. This specialized program was designed especially for Gaza, with training
provided to mothers who ten take learned stress reduction techniques and lessons home to their
families." Your generosity made a difference is desperate situation. Thank you!
The urgent news from East Jerusalem about land ownership and buildings brings into
clear focus the role of the Episcopal Church in the Middle East. Major institutions of the church are in East Jerusalem. The Cathedral, Diocesan offices, its guest house, St George's College, St George's K-12 school for boys (girls newly admitted in kindergarten and first grade) and The Princess Basma Center for Disabled Children all have long and respected histories in East Jerusalem. This is an Anglican/Christian presence that we must support.
End of March 2010
understand the importance of the academics and the values taught here. Nearby the Princess Basma Center for Disabled Children treats children of all faiths who have been damaged by birth or war. The Center works with the whole family sending achild home with parents who can care for their special physical or mental needs. Some children even come from Gaza, when then can
get out. It's a regional referral center and a critical asset to every disabled child in the Diocese.
With all eyes in the world on East Jerusalem, even though we are far from this Holy City, we can support the Christian presence and the work of the Episcopal Diocese through the AFEDJ. We are already there healing, teaching and praying. By strengthening the institutions which
teach and heal, we strengthen families and communities. We provide hope at a time
when there may be a chance. What is your part? It is to support this work by sending a donation now and encouraging your congregation to do the same. Let's not see the Christian population fall below the present 1.5% because we did not recognize our responsibility to our very own Christian family.
With love and hope,
Phoebe Griswold, President of the Board
AFEDJ
At St. George's School, 800 Muslim and Christian boys are being educated in a rigorous curriculum so they can graduate and lead productive lives. Just around the corner, other boys are throwing rocks and getting arrested. Education offers an alternative to this frustration. Diocesan schools includes respect for differences and tolerance as an integral part of the curriculum - so critical in this environment. I've seen the older boys at St. George's during recess where the playground is the size of a postage stamp. They need playgrounds to work off their energy and practice team sports. They don't have that opportunity, yet the waiting list remains long because families
Website by; WebsforGood.com
Read the Opinion piece by Anne Lynn, Executive Director, published in Episcopal Life, on why humanitarian aid in the Middle East matters. Click here...
The UN built the Marka Refugee Camp outside Amman in 1967 to shelter 15,000 after the Arab/Israeli War. Today over 60,000 people are still there. Immediately next door is the Schneller School, an orphanage, a vocational school, a summer camp and a way up and out for neglected and at risk boys. Since 1966, this boarding and day school on 165 acres has prepared boys for responsible lives, providing skills to support themselves and their families. And this month, they welcome their first class of girls! Click here to read more.
Marka Refugee Camp - September 2010
Please contact Anne Lynn for Archived News
Arab Episcopal School teaches blind with the sighted
November 2010
In Jordan, public schools don't accept blind children. Until the Rev. Samir Esaid and his remarkable wife Sabah arrived in Irbid, blind children traveled 45 miles to Amman for an education - if they were able. Few made it. The Esaid's saw a need and found their calling. Over the next 5 years they built a school, Arab Episcopal School, which mainstreams blind, low vision and sighted children, a revolutionary concept at that time in Jordan. Click here to read more...
December 6, 2010 - Happy St. Nicholas Day! The real St. Nicholas served as bishop in Turkey in the 4th Century and addressed the needs of poor children. Please remember those children struggling in the Holy Land each and every day. They would be grateful for your gifts.
Many churches around the country made this celebration their own through intergenerational parties, pageants and remembrances during services. Children filled mite boxes, made mitres, and prayed for their counterparts in the Diocese of Jerusalem. Phoebe Griswold, President of the AFEDJ Board of Directors, preached at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Philadelphia on Sunday, Dec. 5th. St. Luke’s is the site of a shrine to St. Nicholas and provided a generous gift to AFEDJ for children in the Holy Land. Send us pictures of your celebration and we’ll post as many as we can!
Evangelical Home offering love for 56 years
Life is challenging in Ramallah. Especially if your mother has cancer, your father has died -- and you're 8 years old. But for some children facing these obstacles, there's a place of safety, love and hope. The Evangelical Home for Children has sheltered and nurtured orphaned and neglected girls since its founding by an American and two British women in 1954. The original home is pictured at the top of the page.
The Home began in that small house, with 10 young girls and three courageous and determined women who believed homeless girls in the Holy Land deserved a chance. Sr. Mary Jeanne Grupp along with several other sisters fed, clothed and protected their young charges during good times and violent conflict. But they also empowered and motivated them to reach their potential and the same is true today.
Soon the sisters added a school which grew to become the Arab Evangelical Episcopal School, now educating over 900 students.
The Home for girls remains on the School campus. Sr. Najah Rantisi is the current jack of all trades Director, a graduate of both the Home and the School. A recently added daycare facility allows the staff to care for pre‐school children as well. They're pictured at above right.
Without families capable of supporting them, the children have urgent needs. Housing and food cost the Home $3500 per child per year. $1500 is needed for school fees in addition to $50 for books and $80 for uniforms. Summer camp, not a luxury in this situation, is a modest $100. Daycare fees just cover the cost of food at $720 a year. Local parents can afford no more. With your help, the Home can continue to be a refuge for young girls in need.
As we focus on home and family this holiday season, please send some joy to a child playground at the Daycare center who desperately needs support. Your gift will turn a tear into a smile.
If you’re in the Stamford, Connecticut area, plan to join us for the local premier of “Budrus,” an award-winning film about passive resistance in the West Bank. The showing will be on Wednesday, February 16 at 7:30 at the Avon Theater on Bedford Street. Tickets are only $6.The Director will be there to provide background and answer questions after the showing.
Don’t miss this! Click here for more details.
The boys pictured at the top of the page are computer science students at the Diocese of Jerusalem's Vocational Technical School in Ramallah. There are also classes for mechanical drawing, preengineering and a program for juniors and seniors eager to enter the hospitality industry. Church of the Holy Comforter in Virginia, the Diocese of Olympia in Washington and the Presbyterian Church through its Israel/Palestine Mission Network along with other generous donors helped 15 students complete their education. This is a gift that will provide benefits literally forever. Thank you, thank you!
Last week, we received a note from Giovanni Anbar, the gifted director of the school. He told us that 70% of their students are unable to pay all or part of their fees. They rely on donors like you to help students stay in school and graduate. Fees for hospitality students are $1700 per year. Fees for younger students range from $7 to $50 a term. Every gift helps keep a child in school.
Giovanni told us of families facing unemployment, disabilities, single parent households and an orphan who lives at the school with his brother and sister. We heard that 95% of last year's graduating class is at university, college or working in a top hotel in the area. We can give these kids this opportunity.
The Episcopal Technological and Vocational Training Center offers a clear path to a selfsufficient, productive lives. But the school needs scholarship help, a library, classroom and lab equipment. They'd be grateful for your support.
In the January 21, 2011 issue of Episcopal Life online, Anne Lynn describes the relationship between peace and justice and humanitarian aid from AFEDJ’s point of view. We hope you’ll read and circulate it to as many as possible. Both approaches are desperately needed to address the overwhelming need in the Holy Land. And we pray that the result will be a lasting peace. “Don't forget the Holy Land's indigenous Christian population” is must reading for everyone engaged in this work. Read the entire article by clicking here. And pass it on.
March 3, 2011 - Jerusalem The Anglican Bishop in Jerusalem and Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem, the Rt. Revd Suheil Dawani has been denied the renewal of his "Temporary Residency Status" in Jerusalem. This action was taken when the A-5 permits held by himself, his wife and youngest daughter were revoked by the government of Israel, effective 24 September 2010.
Bishop Dawani was installed in 2007 as Bishop of the Diocese and was recognized by the State of Israel as the head of the Episcopal Diocese in accordance with the decision by the State of Israel in 1970 which acknowledged the Diocese as one of the thirteen recognized churches in Israel. All Anglican Bishops of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem who have not held Israeli citizenship have been granted residency permits (A5) to allow them to live in Jerusalem where the Bishop's residence, diocesan offices and cathedral are located. Read more...
He's brought his congregation together to pool funds to buy food for Mrs. K and many others who have no means of support. Fr. Hanna calls on each elderly parishioner, bringing a few minutes of joy into their lives as well as nutrition.
Their families have left, seeking a better life in another country. Unwilling or unable to face the daunting changes in language and lifestyle, many of the elderly opt to stay behind in the community they know and love. But the tragic result is a large number of failing, frail elderly with no one to care for them.
St. Peter's Home for the Elderly is under construction in Birzeit, a Diocesan project to provide shelter and a
April 2011 - Birzeit Home for the Elderly will provide real comfort
Mrs. K is in her mid-80's - she's not sure of her exact age. She shares two spare rooms with her developmentally delayed daughter. They're pictured to the right. Her daughter is able to get some occasional part time work as a cleaning woman in the local school, but the pay is poor - less than $300 a month. It's all they have.
There are no pensions, no hope for more income. As Mrs. K becomes more frail, she wonders what will become of her and who will take care of her daughter if she is no longer there for her.
The Rev. Hanna Dalleh, priest at St. Andrew's parish in Ramallah and also St. Peter's in Birzeit, ministers to Mrs. K and many others like her. Their stories break his heart.
sense of security and hope to 16 of Fr. Hanna's seniors. It's pictured to the left. Your gifts can help create a long term solution to this sad situation. Please help us get this facility completed so Mrs. K and her daughter, and others like her, can live with dignity and peace of mind. Naming opportunities exist for capital gifts, a permanent way to be remembered in love.
Om David is a cheerful woman who's almost completely incapacitated. Her husband died several years ago, her two children emigrated to South American a decade ago, and she's bed‐ridden with circulatory problems resulting from diabetes. It's hard to know what keeps her smiling, with a kind word for everyone and joy in her heart.
Om David was independent until her physical condition deteriorated when Ramallah was almost completely surrounded by checkpoints. It became impossible for her to get to a hospital. The disease quickly and permanently damaged her legs and feet.
Fr. Hanna Daleh, priest at St. Andrew's Parish is Ramallah, visits her and brings her food. Om David eagerly awaits the opening of the St. Andrew's Clinic at the church in Ramallah. The combination of primary care and high quality advanced care for diabetics will allow her to receive good care locally, something that is currently impossible.
The clinic was built as a three storey addition on top of the parish hall and awaits the purchase and installation of specialized equipment for diagnosing, assessing and maintaining diabetes. Fr. Hanna is pictured at the left of the page in the new waiting room. Because of genetic factors, Palestinians have between 4 and 5 times the rate of this debilitating condition as those in the US. Without adequate treatment, it takes vital, productive heads of households and turns them into unemployed dependents.
The clinic will provide services on a sliding scale to insure that everyone has access. But the waiting room stands empty now, waiting for the children and older people who will benefit from care that will keep them healthy. They're waiting for your gift to make it happen........
Om David in Ramallah
Fr. Hanna in the new waiting room
May 2011- St. Andrew's Clinic Ready to Open
Some of us know him -- all of us should. Fr. Fuad Dagher leads a parish in Shefa Amr, a mid-sized city on an ancient trade route between Haifa and Nazareth. It's now home to Muslims, Christians and Druze in verdant northern Israel farmland. It's also home to St. Paul's Episcopal Church, a small but growing congregation working hard to stabilize the dwindling Christian community.
Fr. Fuad preaches, plays the organ and guitar and exudes energy which draws parishioners, visitors and townspeople to his ministry of inclusion. Fr. Fuad saw a need to provide a gathering place for the entire community, from all faith traditions, for concerts, summer camp, festivals and family celebrations. And this place could be right at St. Paul's. After meeting
with other faith leaders in the Shefa Amr, contributions of labor, materials and funds came forward. An abandoned adjacent property was purchased, volunteers
and paid workers joined to rebuild the old structure and
construct a large plaza in front for outdoor performances, activities and celebrations. See the results to the righ of the page.
Funding came from friends near and far. Donors from the US who had visited the parish were particularly generous, notably the Diocese of Los Angeles, Sue and Sandy Smock and a parish in Lexington, Kentucky honoring its outgoing rector. It literally took a worldwide village to create this center of creativity, positive energy and hope.
While some work remains to be done, the dedication is to be held later this month. Celebrate with Fr. Fuad, the parishioners of St. Paul's and the entire town of Shefa Amr with a prayer, a financial gift or a visit to this place of faith. Help make this parish a magnet for Christian community and support as they do God's work in a volatile place. Pilgrims welcome!
June 2011- Building Community in Shefa Amr
Click here to read about Bishop Suheil Dawani’s address to the International Conference on Christians in the Holy Land, July 18-19, Lambeth Palace
August 2011 - There’s always uncertainty in the Middle East -- it’s almost the definition of the place. But the combination of “Arab Spring,” the connection to Hamas and a possible UN vote on Palestinian statehood has increased the tension and the stakes. Click here to read full opinion piece by Anne Lynn.
Today's main story is about two people who've never met. Yet their lives are now connected in a permanent and important way. A pilgrim leaves California on a vacation to Jerusalem and comes home with a changed heart. A student worries about her future and, with the help of a few intermediaries, is now a college freshman.
The picture above is Birzeit University, outside of Ramallah. It's a commuter school in a land where travel is extremely difficult. Most teachers use course packs instead of textbooks because the cost and availability of books for individual students is prohibitive. Yet learning happens. Minds are changed. Joan made it happen for one teenager. You can too.
"Visiting Israel was a very moving experience for me. I came away wondering how I could make just a little difference." From this beginning, Joan Short literally changed a life for a student in the Holy Land. Joan made the decision to fund a full university scholarship for a graduate of a Diocesan school. And so Tala Shunnara entered Birzeit University this month, something that would not have happened without Joan. They've never met in person, but now they correspond by email and both lives are touched.
Tala graduated from the Arab Evangelical Episcopal School in Ramallah, a student there since kindergarten. Her two younger brothers continue there and her mom is a teacher of special needs children at the school as well. Tala's dad is a social worker at a rehab center. Both parents are poorly paid, and with three tuitions to pay, the family is unable to afford a car much less university for Tala.
Enter Joan Short, President of Worldwide Golf and Tennis, a specialty travel agency and a member at Saint Michael and all Angels in Corona del Mar, California. A group from the parish made a pilgrimage to the Holy Land this spring and met with the Rt. Rev. Suheil Dawani, Anglican Bishop in Jerusalem. Joan describes the moment when she decided: "We met with the Bishop who touched my heart with his commitment to education as a path to peace. So now it's my time to give a gift which can make a big impact for Tala. Giving her a chance for a university education has made me so happy, and I hope that others will consider making a donation for education through AFEDJ.
Each and every contribution toward scholarships makes a difference to a child in the Holy Land. Large or small, each gift offers a student the benefit of an education which incorporates respect for differences, tolerance and conflict resolution into the curriculum. Each Diocesan school helps stabilize communities and encourage educated families to stay and help lead the region to a lasting peace. Please make a gift with a lasting impact. Secure, online giving is quick, easy and offers lasting benefits to both you and the recipient.
Tala plans to study English in college and then teach. With help from donors like Joan and you, students can say to you what Tala said to Joan: "Thanks so much for your kindness. It means the world to me that I can go to college. God bless you."
September 2011 - Joan and Tala A Pilgrim's gift changes a life in the Holy Land
The residency permits and visas that enable Anglican Bishop in Jerusalem Suheil Dawani and his family to reside legally in Jerusalem have been reinstated after 13 months of the documentation being denied by Israel's Ministry of Interior. (More)
September 27, 2011 -
Jerusalem bishop's residency permit reinstated after months of international diplomacy
The US Congress has voted to withhold promised foreign aid to the Palestinian Authority. This may seem like good politics to some, but the result is potentially disastrous for the poor and disabled in the Holy Land.
In the US, a child in a wheelchair is, blessedly, a rarity. A blind or deaf child even more so. But at the Princess Basma Centre for Disabled Children in East Jerusalem, there are 8 children with cochlear implants – and that’s the 4 years old class. And those children are pictured above. There are dozens with leg braces and thick glasses. They come from all over the West Bank since the Centre is a regional referral resource, with the best available services for those with disabilities of all types. Why are there so many disabled people in the Holy Land?
Betty Majaj, Director of Princess Basma, explained that untreated childhood infections, unvaccinated children, a culture of close marriages, late intervention and genetics are the primary causes. Lack of access to primary care can mean that small, treatable conditions needlessly result in permanent disabilities.
US foreign aid funds humanitarian aid around the world. And it helps Princess Basma’s outreach to 30 communities. They provide the follow-up care for those who have been through a program at the Centre and then returned to their home villages. It’s also the early diagnosis opportunity for rural children. Without outreach, more will be unable to contribute to their families and their communities, unable to reach their potential. And they become a burden and a cultural embarrassment for already struggling families.
In addition to concern about funding for the outreach program, the cost of heating fuel has risen dramatically in the last year. Sick children need heated rooms. The Centre cannot afford to fill the hydrotherapy pool which provides relief to those with constricted muscles and coordination problems.
October 2011 - Princess Basma Centre is caught by US policy
November 2011 - The Blind Teach the Blind
A priest and his wife were sent to a small, struggling parish in Irbid, a bustling city in northern Jordan. Samir Esaid and his wife Sabah Zurikat met families who said they had three children, but they only ever met two - or one. They came to learn that the "missing" children were kept at home because they are blind. From this observation came an extraordinary ministry, the Arab Evangelical School in Irbid. The school was the first in Jordan to mainstream blind and sighted children in each class. The King of Jordan visited the school to honor this achievement and to bring attention to the need for more schools like it. Last month, Phoebe Griswold, President of the Board of AFEDJ along with 18 pilgrims, visited the school. Read full story here....
