Visit November 2014, 17 and 18

Three of us went down, Br. Joe, Lorenzo and I and Sabah met us at the Palestinian side just in time to help us with our permits to enter. The Al Arabia School we visited first as it is near the border. The school was able to have an NGO sponsor new paint for the classes, so some classes of children were eating outside. Still others were studying inside. The meal was a sandwich due to the painting in process.

Gaza City followed with a quick visit to the bank and then a meeting of us all to catch up on the critical post war events. We programed the two months ahead. One pre-school had to close as the owner lives in it as their home was closed. The teachers have found a large hall where they can do an afternoon program for the same children. It has a kitchen so a meal can be served also. This area was the worst hit and so the children have been traumatized and their families are living in the open air due to losing their homes. There was a general strike that day with all the government schools and offices closed since the government had not paid their staff for 6 months.

Joe and Lorenzo left for the boarder in the afternoon and Sabah and I went to her home where more planning went on and where I was served a lovely meal.

That afternoon I visited the Christian Refugee Camp and Ghraha Swallens family. Grada brought me up to date on her work with the children and young women who she had guided spiritually for years. We fund their activities. I spent the night with the Missionaries of Charity who are caring now for many more children with special needs.

On Wednesday we went direct to the Middle Camps area visiting our new school first. It had just received a new roof which is great and the classes were repainted. The children were busy working at tables and a delicious meal was being prepared for them. They have opened a third classroom with the furnishing from the Missionaries of Charity. Musadder School which is near we traveled to after. Two classes of very poor children 80 in all, have their families live in the public schools as they have no place to go. These children touched us deeply as they live in a very un-hygienic environment. There are not enough bathrooms for the numbers of people housed in these schools. The children looked sad, were dirty and their clothing was unwashed. The teachers are trying to give these children more care and attention.

Following we went to Women’s Center who sponsors the Zahar School which had to close. This building is badly damaged, yet it was used by the women. Eman, the owner, hopes to get cement to be able to make repairs as special committee has been set up under the UN to control the cement and building materials which are allowed to enter Gaza so that the government cannot touch it. We encouraged them to write up the program for us which they hope to put on for the children in the afternoon to see if we can sponsor it.

We visited the extremely damaged region of Shegyia and one poor family still living in their damaged home. It was heart rendering to see the extent of the destruction. After I left for the boarder to get there before it closes.

Sr. Susan Sheehan DC

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