March 8 and 9 2022 Trip to Gaza
On March 8 and 9, 2022, Sr. Susan, Sr. Frantiska, Fr. George, Sabah, and Sami visited the Zeitun neighborhood of Gaza. They first visited a one-story home approved for renovation last November. The construction crew contracted by Sabah had completed a significant amount of work. The crew rebuilt the kitchen and built an entirely new room in an interior courtyard. All the rooms have new corrugated roofs and are ready for the installation of window frames and glass.
The kitchen was a complete upgrade with plastered walls and tiled floors. The construction crew added three or four decorative tiles on the wall above the location of a new countertop. The family, especially the children, were all smiles. They were witnessing significant material improvements to their home. And the home builders were happy. The construction crew wore yellow neon safety vests with “Daughters of Charity Gaza Association” printed on the back. These men had meaningful work, and they knew two English words, “Thank You.”
Zeitun is a poor, densely populated area of the city. The worn-down buildings approach, in some cases, 100 years of use. The Gaza Project assists the Samira Women’s Association with medicine, food, and clothes. The group has a food preparation business and before the pandemic had exported pre-cooked, bagged meals to Morocco and Spain. As a result of the pandemic, the entire community has lost work and income. Many people have not received financial assistance from either Samira or the civil welfare system for over one year. The Association continues to provide the Gaza Project with the names and addresses of the families most in need of help.
The team also visited the Zakhir preschool in Zietun. The school located in a residential building had 70 students in attendance with three small rooms acting as classrooms, an activity area the size of a large living room, and a covered interior patio with some play equipment and artificial grass. The eight teachers and administrators had the children entertain the team, with songs, stationary exercises, and plenty of smiles. The preschool needs significant upgrading: repair or replacement of the courtyard roof, expansion of the bathroom to fulfill the local ordinances, the hanging windows, and faucets for the play area. Sr. Susan and the team saw this preschool as a worthy charitable project.
During the trip, the team visited four homes for potential renovation. Two homes were beyond the point of renovation. The Gaza Project gave one family funds to pay for travel costs for medical visits. The owner of the second house acknowledged that renovation was not possible with bowed and weakened walls. A third house could possibly have some roofing renovation. This is to be determined by the contractor and Sabah. Finally, the team visited a family in the Beach Refugee Camp. The family had a two-room house with eight children. Placing the water tank on the roof will gain some space. The Project will also provide windows and a door.
Sister Frantiska had the team bring three well-packed suitcases of clothes for distribution. When unpacked, the clothes filled 12 large, plastic container bags. A welcomed wonder!
Time was spent with the Missionaries of Charity and the Institute of the Divine Word priests at Holy Family Parish. The team visited the local museum as an excursion prior to leaving.
