Saturday, March 16, 2024

New informations


March 15, 2024

 

We promised to keep you informed on what we’d be doing now since the war has not allowed us to continue our projects in the South. Our little team met last week to discern what the Lord wants of us. No one can get in, only a few large Church relief organizations who have local staff there can get the much-needed water and food in to keep people alive. We concluded that we cannot help them ourselves now, so we must join with other relief organizations who can do so. These are the steps I took before our meeting:

-       Recovered our money from the bank in G. City and put it in a new account

in Jerusalem in the same bank. This took several trips to Jerusalem to do.

Fr. George has the second signature on this “Daughters of Charity” account.

-       Visited other agencies that are getting water and food to the people. Since the

The attack on the Orthodox Church, which left 17 people dead, has caused world attention to this Orthodox parish and our Catholic parish. Between the two, they are harboring 400 to 600 Muslim and Christians whom they are trying to feed. They are completely cut off from the South where the food is being trucked in. Other homeless people, who never left the North for the South with the majority of the people, also are served in the two parishes.  Fr. Gabriel, the parish priest, was outside the Strip when the war began. He now works full time at the Patriarchate trying to get relief to the people in these parishes. These days he is trying to get fuel and flour in. Two or three days a week they serve a hot meal to these refugees. Sisters from the three communities there help while also caring for the thirty handicapped children with the Missionaries of Charity, with whom we stayed when we were there.

 

What appears now is that this war will continue for months ahead. No one will be allowed to enter the South until the war is finished. We have no idea if there will be a government there that will issue permits to enter. Our days of going down and having our programs seem to be over. Sabah, who has been running our programs for 18 years, has gotten out with her husband to go to Egypt. I’ve had no direct news of Wasel our Social Worker.  Many of our friends are refugees in the south.

 

If you are interested in still funding us, know that your funding now goes toward the salaries of our two staff and donations go to four other people who have been working with us for about 20 years. They all live in the south of the Strip. This money is keeping them and their large families alive. Your donations will go monthly to the Latin Patriarchate which cares for 200 to 400 people in the Catholic parish and in the Orthodox parish where they have been refugees for months. They provide meals and water to these families. The cost of a meal varies as the food that is available and its price changes. One priest and several sisters care for this large number of people. Many have died due to injuries and lack of medicine and medical care.

 

 Every two months we will meet and discern with the Lord what direction to proceed. We will still be helping Christians and Muslims by saving their lives, which is important to us.

Every month you can follow events with us on our website. It is www.daughtersofcharity-gaza-blogspot.com.Things are constantly changing. We are committed to continuing to help the people, especially in this critical time by providing the basics of water and food. If the war stops, then people may need other essential items. In our 27 years of existence, we’ve helped after four wars, yet none as destructive as this one.

Know that you are in our prayers as you decide whether or not to continue to assist us. In any event, we understand your decision.

The pictures are sent to me by our past driver who is an outstanding husband and father. He is now volunteering to help the children of the refugee camps by organizing different activities for them. He and his family are refugees suffering from hunger and the same diseases as the population in the south.

Blessings,

Sr. Frantiska DC,

Fr. George SJ,

Sr. Juliana Notre Dame of Sion, and

Sr. Susan DC


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Tuesday, October 31, 2023

Post War update

 


Post War update

As not to leave many of our friends and benefactors in the dark about the situation in the South I am sharing what I know having to be very prudent this will have to be short this time.

The war began on October 7th. and Sabah’s six-story home was demolished about two or three days after. She has gotten short messages out to me which say they are still okay, her and her husband. They have little water and food. Wasel our social worker was okay the first few days after the war and after we’ve had no news of her. Our two ladies have been running our programs for years and now all has come to a halt. We are not sure if the building where we rented an office is still standing. Our bank is in the same region and we don’t know if it is still standing and functioning. These three buildings were all in the Remal area of the city which was one of the first areas to be leveled. 

We are totally in the dark as to how we can help the population at this point. None of the borders are open and all five of us do not have our permits to enter as they have expired and we’ve been waiting to have them renewed. No one can help us get them renewed until after the war.

You see I have very little information to share with you. Still, we thank many of you who have written me telling me of your concern and many prayers for the situation. As soon as I know anything of importance I will add it to this website. Please keep up the prayers!

Abundant blessings on all of you,

Sr. Susan and Team

Saturday, September 23, 2023

Visit September 2023


September Visit on the 5th. and the 6th..

 

Yearly in September, we go down to visit the schools of Gaza to see how many children are registered and to know their needs for this coming year. It appears now that we have 350 little ones ages 3 to 5 years old. 

We saw many red eyes and tears in the classroom of the 3-year-olds who were going to school for the first time. They were having registration and two of the schools had already two classes of children in action. The teachers play a lot of games at the start to get them used to school. We hope to get them school materials: crayons, colored pencils, paint, etc for the children and the teachers. We visited three schools and Sabah had gathered the information when she visited two schools as we were late at arriving the first day. The parents purchase a workbook for their child, often paying for them after payday at the end of the month if one has a job.

It was extremely hot in the 30ies those two days and the electricity is on only 2 to 4 hours a day now. We try to be sure that each class has enough windows so the children can see as they work.

Each school has a different list of needs for their school. We hope that we have the funding to cover these items such as tables, chairs, whiteboards, bottled gas for the kitchen, etc.

A few more people are allowed to leave Gaza now to work or to visit relatives abroad. They can go to Jordan now and from there go abroad.

We hope that this next academic year will bring peace as war increases the poverty of many.

 

                                  September 8, 2023



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Visit June 2023

 Visit June 20th. 2023

Sr. Fantiska and I went down for the day only. Renovations had been done for a family and the school of Fawyseh also had her bathrooms renovated. We started our visit seeing Fawyseh’s School and were very pleased to see the walls of the bathroom stalls were up and the sink for the children and water taps were installed. About half the work is still to be done.

After we went to see the family whose home had been completed. They needed many rooms to be renovated. We saw these areas completed: roof, flooring tiles in some rooms, and tile on the walls in the bathroom and kitchen. A bathroom, and a kitchen needed new fixtures. Best of all was seeing how happy all the family was. Again the rooms were very clean and organized. The handicapped girl of about 9 years old was clean and well cared for by her older sisters. The mother has poor vision or no vision in one eye. She does all the washing by hand for the large family; she asked if we could help her buy a washing machine for 400 shekels. We agreed that they need it. 

After we spent our time with Sabah discussing the summer needs. She will be away all of July and much of August so we needed to know how our programs will continue during those months. Wasel will still work during those months so things have been prepared for July and much of August. She will be helped by Sami our driver and by Summer; both have experience with our three programs which run in the summer months.

Tuesday, May 30, 2023

Visit May 2023

 




May visit to Gaza

Sr. Frantiska and I hadn’t gone down for some time as we didn’t have our permit renewed to enter.  Br. Lorenzo had gone down by himself and chose the next home that we would renew.

Over a week ago we tried going to Gaza and were halfway there when Sabah called us telling us that the border was closed due to the shelling. We tried again on the 16th. and 17th. to go down as we were assured that the war was over and the border was open and all went well.

Sabah and the driver Sami were there to meet us as usual. We went to Fawyseh’s School first which is near to the entrance. All were well there and a nice meal of meat, vegetables, and rice was being served. The teachers told us of the children who were still traumatized by the heavy shelling. We visited the Sumi School which was not far from the border also and they too were serving the same meal. It was interesting as the children most often ate the meat first. Probably they never had it at home. The Japanese NGO will renovate the interior of the school during the summer months.

Following this we went to see the family who will be having renovations done in June. They are a family of ten children. The parents are first cousins and the mother has no sight in one eye; an 8-year-old daughter is disabled and very active. Their home needs: a new roof, water was coming from the roof when we were there. They also need a renovated kitchen and bathroom. 

That afternoon we were invited to lunch with all the directresses of the four schools and Mohamad as Sabah supervises his school for their benefactor. All of them seemed to need to share the events of the war; it had been very stressful for them too.

On the second day, we visited first the two schools in the middle area. Both were again serving nice meals for the children. All five schools will be having their end-of-the-year party for the children on the 28th. or 29th. of May. This will be the last day of school for them all. We can’t afford to help them have summer camps these last few years as they are expensive.

One home we had completed in this area in April we went to visit. We were so happy to see the results of the renovations. The mother a widow was so happy with everything. A bit of money was left over and with it, she was able to buy a plastic rug and a carpet for the living room. They needed a washing machine so she was able to purchase one which she showed us with a big smile.


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Saturday, February 11, 2023

Our new brochure

 Our new brochure






Visit February 2023

 


February 2023

We had a meeting to discuss several new events on Monday the 6th. and on Tuesday three of us went down to Gaza. Despite rain wind and cold, we were able to do a lot with Sabah and Wasel. The first day we started out by visiting the new school where we had just had an old bathroom taken down and a new one built. The children were not there due to the weather as the two days the schools were all closed. Secondly, we visited a family in the middle camps area whose home we had begun to renovate. Most of the family was present. Three of the youngest children had bear feet.  We couldn’t resist giving money to Sabah to see that these three got new shoes. All the children were handicapped mentally.

After we went to our office to discuss the issues covered at our meeting. Our social worker’s kitchen roof fell in so she asked for her indemnities early and we saw that she received them. She has two daughters at University and she lost her husband two months ago. Our ladies who work for us encouraged us to start a program for the elderly as there is a great need for many of them to receive shampoo, hygiene materials, and diapers. For now, we haven’t the funding to do it. Perhaps in the future, we can. We decided that we can give a bag of food to 200 families for Ramadan in March.

On the second day, we started out by going to the bank to get some information. After we visited the distribution of the medicines that we give out monthly. We saw about five of the 45 who received their medications at a pharmacy that day. Following we went to the middle camps area of the Musaddar School as there were 100 families receiving their 14 items of food and two soaps that month. Each month we serve another area and other families. Winter shows so vividly the poverty of the families who came for their food. Many looked very hungry and thin. Some came with donkeys and carts and collected food for their neighbors also. That was our experiences this last trip down.

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Saturday, January 21, 2023

Visit January 2023

 


January visit the 10th. and the 11th. 2023

Sr. Frantiska and Sr. Susan went down as Fr. George couldn’t join us this time due to other commitments. Sabah met us at the border and we started our day with a visit to Fawyseh’s school in the north. The children were busy either eating in turns outside as it was warm out. Others were learning their letters or numbers inside and one class was doing exercises to music. We found everything clean and orderly and serving a nice meal of macaroni and meat.

Following we visited three very poor homes in the same area. I had just rained and there was wet sand everywhere even inside as the floors were of sand in several homes. Two home were tents. The government will not allow them to build a concrete block house as the property belongs to the government. We help these families by seeing that they get a bag of food from time to time.

After we went to a place near the beach where the heads of the school met for a meeting and they provided us all with a meal after. Again being it a warm day we could sit outside at simple tables. We went straight to the Missionaries of Charity in the late afternoon. They have a new superior who we know from her being there seven years earlier. We had a warm welcome as usual. We also visited with Fr. Gabriel after Mass.

The following day we needed to go to the bank. After this we went to our office and discussed with our two ladies the current situation. The children will be on semester break now for two weeks. We will replace the bathroom in the new school which is in a bad condition with a new one. The homes in the Musaddar area that we visited last time we will renovate as it is in a terrible condition en general. Ramadan will be coming, so our team will meet in Jerusalem in February to decide how we can give extra food to families. Now we are feeding 100 a month. We left that afternoon being pleased with the two days and being very grateful to our benefactors.


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Friday, November 4, 2022

Visit October 2022

 


October brought the three of us to Gaza again. This time was unique as both of our ladies Sabah and Wasel had daughters who were to deliver babies when we were there. So we made plan in case either one had to be absent. Wasel’s daughter Maha had a little boy the second day the 26th. and the mother and child are fine. Sabah’s daughter Ream had her baby the 30th. a little girl and again both of them are fine. I talked to both grandmothers after the births and they were so proud and relieved to have the little ones safely among them.

The first day we visited four families and had our meeting with Sabah as usual. She shared some good news in that perhaps another 4,000 men may have the possibility to go to work in Israel. If so it will put food on the table for 4,000 families. 

For months we wanted to thank the two communities the parish priest and the Missionaries of Charity where we stay when we are in Gaza by inviting them to a picnic on the beach. Finally it was realized on the afternoon of the 25th. and our picnic was delicious due to the good judgment and planning of Sabah and Sami our driver. The weather was delightful.

The second day there we started with visiting some of the families whose homes we had renovated over the last few years. We wanted to see how they are doing. Again we saw four families and decided to stay and to visit with them longer than we usually do. They all received us with joy. Only one mother of the family was not clean and orderly. In one family the father was painting a wall and their situation seemed better. They were definitely proud of their home. In the last family the father had had his leg amputated above the knee and was finding it difficult to have the surgery to get a new artificial leg. He was dealing with depression. Still their home was clean and the rest of the family seemed happy. From time to time these families still receive food or medicine from us when it is needed so we keep in touch with them.


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Wednesday, October 5, 2022

Visit September 2022

 


                 

On Tuesday and Wednesday, September 13 and 14, Sister Susan, Sister Frantiska, and Fr. George visited four preschools supported by the Gaza Project and a fifth preschool that will now receive renovation and development help. The Gaza Project has helped the El Arabia preschool located in the Beit Hanoun area in the north for many years.  Time has taken its toll on the playground roof, a metal one that blocks too much light.  The proposal is for a new heavy-duty roof that will allow light to enter without the heat.  The Interior classroom walls need sealing and paint, and the bathroom and kitchen roof needs fixing. Children were active and happy, and an artist painting wall murals shared that he had attended the preschool as a child.   

The group returned to Zakhar preschool to see the returning students in their renovated school.  The school’s improvements were beautiful.  We enjoyed watching the 60 children at work in their classes and relishing their new indoor play area with a carpet of artificial grass.  The teachers were as happy as the children.

At Sabah’s office, we discussed the Project’s subsidizing of school fees for those who have little income.  We all agreed that a minimal contribution from every family provides a good faith investment in the effort.  Our goal is to assure the salaries of the teachers from the fees we help to pay for. We continue to fund the food program that started last week. Sabah showed us a sturdy backpack that was one of 200 purchased for students, an earlier request now fulfilled. She had shopped at numerous stores and found a fantastic price.  The team also discussed the renovation of the new school at Beit Hanoun.  We also unloaded three tightly packed suitcases of clothes.  Sister Frantiska delivers some donated clothes for children and adults of all ages when we come to Gaza.

On Wednesday, we visited two preschools in the Middle camps. The first two we have been helping for some years that of the Barham Tuyour El Sham and the Mosaddar preschool.  At the Barham, we met with the staff and discussed an additional classroom and bathroom on the second floor.  The Barham School has two new teachers and Sister Susan encouraged their participation in minicourses for preschool teachers and the director agreed. Mosaddar School is well established, and the team agreed to help its students with school supplies.  We had the unique opportunity to visit a Bedouin family that lived close to the school.  They were happy to see Sister Susan and the school director.  The family had 25 adults and 35 children.  They continued to cook over an open fire and eat together in Bedouin fashion.  This large family lives in multiple dwellings on a single compound.  

The final stop before returning to Jerusalem was at Beit Hanoun.  The director reviewed the school’s needs with the team.  Sabah will work with MECA to coordinate the renovation of the building including new walls, per the permit requirements, rather than partitions. The immediate need is to add shelves to the kitchen and take down the old bathroom structure and build a new one in a better location. This we will begin doing soon.

Additional good news. There are now 15,000 Palestinians from Gaza working in Israel, and the Israeli government foresees increasing that number to 20,000.  God bless you all.


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